172 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



My fly being on, and the cast well stretched, I com- 

 menced operations, and at the third throw rose a heavy 

 fish without pricking him. However, I thought I would 

 move down, and return when I had got to the bottom 

 of the pool, and offer his excellency another chance. At 

 the fifth throw I rose and hooked a fine fish, who, as 

 soon as he felt he was impaled, rushed down into the 

 still water. Not less than seventy yards did he run 

 out at this burst, and when I thought I had turned 

 him, the scoundrel sulked and remained sullen at the 

 bottom. I thought he was hooked strong, for I struck 

 him quick and forcibly, and therefore felt confident, 

 barring accidents, that he was destined to be mine. 

 Slowly, but surely, I worked down stream, taking in 

 with guarded hand every inch of slack that I could 

 with safety. When abreast of him, not over thirty 

 yards were off my reel, and the ground was more than 

 usually accessible. With patience I waited some 

 minutes, but I might just as well have been fast to a 

 rock. Other salmon were breaking around me, and I 

 could not afford the time to remain inactive. I 

 was determined to rouse my prize, and my anxiety 

 increased when the sailor who accompanied me an- 

 nounced that the skipper had just landed a fish. 

 In my excitement I had lost sight of my friend, 

 but Crosby's news recalled him. The captain had 



