178 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



with me for a moment ; it is but the allotted time for a 

 breather between the heats the welcome respite before 

 the final burst that is to terminate the race. So it 

 was in this instance ; the strength, if not the courage 

 of the regal foe, was weaker, and each succeeding effort 

 became less powerful. Many a yard of line was 

 again run out and safely restored to its resting-place. 

 Up and down both immolator and victim traced and 

 retraced their course ; the one fearing to pursue, the 

 other momentarily becoming more unfit. Time did its 

 work, and, as in all things, brought the last scene to 

 a close. A shoal bank of gravel lay at my feet, and 

 giving my fish the butt, I drew him in towards Crosby, 

 who, ankle deep, stood beneath me in the cool, clear 

 water, and struck the gaff into the spotless silver side, 

 and landed him with the adroitness of one who had 

 served a long apprenticeship to the trade. Don't 

 imagine that there is no science in handling a gaff ; 

 for one expert many muffs will be found. How, 

 then, you may ask, did this sailor learn so difficult 

 a business in so short a space ? Probably because 

 he had a natural aptness ; or, more likely, being a 

 sailor, he could turn his hands much sooner than per- 

 sons of any other trade to a business which required 

 coolness and dexterity. 



This fish weighed over eighteen pounds, and was 



