ii2 THE SALMON. 



terribly. The fish lay like a log, or rather a rock, 

 at the bottom : how to move him was the point. I 

 then tried for the first time what I believe to be 

 the only available "tactic" under such circum- 

 stances. Lowering the point of my rod until it 

 touched, nay entered the water, I kept up a long, 

 strong, steady, continuous pull at the full tension 

 which my tackle would bear, in a direction almost 

 at a right angle with the line of the fish, as he lay 

 with his head up-stream. The effect, though it 

 was some time before it became apparent, was, 

 no doubt, to cause him considerable difficulty in 

 holding his position ; gradually, and by slow 

 degrees, he would attempt to ease the strain upon 

 him, slightly turning his head in the direction of 

 the pull. As in all temptations, the first downward 

 step was a stride on the road to ruin. The large 

 surface of his side exposed obliquely, in however 

 small a degree, to the force of the stream, rendered 

 the position untenable, and in half a minute more 

 he was careering through Mr Lee's then new pool, 

 and running his headlong race seaward. There is 

 a gorge not far below, through which the water 

 hurries at great speed, the bank on one side 

 shelving abruptly down to the rocky edge. Here 

 Jemmy, well knowing that the salmon would pass 

 down the rapid at a comparatively slow pace, and, 



