THE VALUE OF OBSERVATION 43 



the dam and sulking. In one of the latter fits 

 I urged him toward me somewhat too strongly, 

 and he was off. Immediately I was afforded a 

 sight of what I had lost as he leaped clear of 

 the water in an evident endeavour to dislodge 

 the thing that had fastened to his jaw. The 

 smash made as he struck the water still resounds 

 in my ear, and when I say that this fish would 

 have gone close to five pounds I but exercise 

 the right to that license accorded all anglers who 

 attempt to describe the size of the big ones that 

 get away. Having one good fish in my creel, 

 however, I really had some basis for my cal- 

 culation at any rate, he was one of the best 

 fish I have ever risen. Examining my leader, 

 I found it had not broken, but the telltale curl 

 at the end proved that, in the fast-gathering 

 gloom, I had been careless in knotting on the 

 fly. 



