A MORNING'S FISHING. 27 



has been leaning on the rail beside him, and dips it 

 into the water, so that with the rod he can draw 

 the fish over and into it ; on no account must he 

 " scoop," at any rate here and now. Then the net 

 is lifted, and the novice's first fish is brought to 

 shore. By its golden-olive flanks, red fins and tail, 

 dusky cross-bars, and big back fin armed with 

 sharp spines, he may know it for a perch. 



The justifiable pride with which he stands 

 regarding his first perch in the landing-net is 

 perhaps somewhat tempered by hesitation as to the 

 next move. He has first to get the hook out, a 

 task which has baffled a good many beginners 

 before now, though it is easy enough after a little 

 practice. He starts by kneeling down on the patch 

 of grass under the mill wall, laying his net with the 

 fish in it in front of him and his rod beside him so 

 that there is plenty of slack line. Then he grasps 

 the fish in his left hand firmly, smoothing down the 

 prickly back fin so that it cannot wound him. The 

 hook, he sees, is sticking in the corner of the fish's 

 mouth, and he takes its shank between right finger 

 and thumb. The barb has to be forced back 

 through the hole it has made, and this is a matter 

 requiring some little knack ; a quick, firm push as 

 a rule will do it, with, if necessary, a slight twist as 

 well. If the hook is in a very tough place it may 



