170 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



effort I succeeded in landing him on terra firma. We had 

 no scales to weigh him, and we were too tired, and had 

 killed nobler specimens before we returned to think more 

 of this little hero ; but from experience I am confident 

 he must have reached nearly five pounds. On examina- 

 tion of our ground, we mutually agreed to separate, 

 one taking the left, and the other the right side of the 

 river. Trees and brush did not grow sufficiently near 

 its margin to seriously incommode us, and the rocks, 

 which became uninterrupted after leaving the coast, 

 were flat and in regular strata, affording excellent 

 footing, and in many places their table-like surface 

 was only a few inches above the level of the stream. 

 One of the sailors accompanied me to act as gaffer, and 

 afford assistance, while the other went with the captain. 

 In our council of war, which we held before sepa- 

 rating, it was determined that we should try and fish 

 opposite one another as much as circumstances would 

 allow, and under no occasion get out of haiL A few 

 hundred yards higher than my exploring had led 

 me the day before, the water tumbled over some rocks, 

 making a fall of six or seven feet, and then expanded 

 into a broad sullen pool, with a disturbed but slow 

 current down its centre, covered with patches of foam. 

 Soon my rod was together, and an old favourite fly 

 added to my stretcher, whose performance was frequently 



