SPINNING. 83 



my monster pike. As the head appeared above 

 the wave, the beast made a rush, the shoulders and 

 part of the back well above water, the savage 

 mouth wide open, and for fifteen or twenty yards 

 dashed along with a force which, if resisted, would 

 have broken a rope, making the water boil again, 

 lashing it, seemingly more in rage than despair, 

 with its powerful tail. Happily my gear worked 

 well, and dropping the point of the rod, and easing 

 the line a bit, I let it run as far as it would, and 

 then brought it cannily back again. Three times, 

 each with diminished force, did the deluded beast 

 try with mad rushes to break the good tackle, and 

 then, grimly succumbing, floated helpless on its 

 side. Fortunately, I had brought a gaff with me, 

 and Malcolm, by its aid, speedily transferred my 

 capture to the boat. It was a splendid fish, in 

 capital condition, and weighed fully thirty pounds, 

 the largest pike that has ever come under my 

 personal notice as killed by rod and line. I for- 

 warded it at once to Mr Frank Buckland, who most 

 kindly " cast" it for me. The cast was painted by 

 the eminent artist Mr H. L. Rolfe, and having been 

 " set up " in a case by Edon, of Chichester Terrace, 

 Kilburn Park, the best fish-stuffer of my acquaint- 

 ance, forms a most interesting object in my house. 

 It is, independently of the great size of the object, 



