314 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



the most elaborate mathematical theories. AU this means that before I 

 go a yard away from where I lost my grayling, I see unerringly in a far 

 shadow the outline of another. General Ey.e thereupon telegraphs to 

 Major Wrist the requisite message, and ere a second has elapsed the 

 latter propels the line through the air, and the stretcher falls lightly as 

 before (see similes above) within a foot of the creature's nose. He sees 

 it, and takes it with some ostentation. Notwithstanding all my preaching^ 

 you see, I am a little flurried this time in dealing with my fish, especially 

 as he is apparently bent on being obstinate ; and, as he is evidently a good 

 sized one, I am disposed to be rougher, and I am reminded that this 

 will not do by the elastic giving of the hair cast. However, this fish is 

 unquestionably mine, and I make security doubly sure by lifting it out at 

 last in the landing net. He scaled 21b. all but an ounce, and was one of 

 the largest that had been taken for some time from the stream in 

 question. 



Now, if you are trout or grayling fishing, it is just as well, in the event 

 of getting a good fish which you will like to exhibit as nearly perfect 

 in colour and general symmetry as possible, to observe two things : these 

 are, kill it, and wrap it in fine tissue paper. As I have before stated, 

 grayling are best to eat before any change at all takes place, and they 

 are unquestionably only handsome then so far as colour is concerned. 

 The original of the drawing which is given of the grayling, before the 

 artist, a most painstaking and exact draughtsman, had commenced 

 to copy it, had been dead some twelve hours, and had, I make bold to 

 say, died slowly from asphyxia. Hence it had lost colour slightly ; 

 there was faintly perceptible loss of symmetry about the head. Had it 

 been killed and then enveloped in fine tissue paper this would not have 

 been the case. The way to kill a trout or grayling, or, in fact, any fish, 

 unless it be too large, is to take it round with the left hand below the 

 gills tightly, and placing the thumb of the other in its mouth, jerk 

 the head back sharply. This dislocates the vertebra behind the base 

 of the skull. No other method of killing fish is nearly so clean and 

 effective. Having thus despatched my prize and duly wrapped his body 

 in fine tissue paper, I re-adjust the line and again seek sport. Two 

 more fish are added to the creel by eight o'clock, and the " aching 

 void " of which I am now intensely sensible by this time begins to 

 increase alarmingly, so much so indeed that I am obliged to have 

 recourse to my flask again. I couldn't leave the stream yet for half 

 an hour, so I determine to make up the number of three brace if 

 possible. I am not destined to do so, however, for an untoward event 

 happens in this wise. After bagging two more beauties, I throw my line 

 over to the neighbourhood of a likely looking spot, and immediately I 



