SALMON FISHING IN LABRADOR. 213 



force of the rush, doubtless a good one twenty pounds 

 if an ounce and such he proved when he broke 

 water, with every prospect of success ; for I consider 

 the first burst, until the fish is turned, as far more 

 dangerous and probable to result in disaster than any 

 other portion of the fray. At least an hour did I 

 give to gain the victory ; but as I brought my prize, 

 now thoroughly exhausted, into shoal water, I felt 

 that I would sooner have undergone five times the 

 labour and loss of time than lose my fish. With 

 repeated cautions, my attendant entered the water, 

 the same man who had accompanied me the first day, 

 and using his gaff with the proficiency of one who 

 had served a long apprenticeship, skilfully landed the 

 salmon at the first attempt. This one when weighed 

 barely turned twenty pounds, and was, by long odds, 

 the finest that was captured by either myself or the 

 skipper. 



As I passed down the comparatively stagnant por- 

 tion of the pool, an indication of current that eddied 

 round a point of rock in the centre of the river 

 particularly struck me as being a place worthy of 

 attention. Easing out a few . extra yards of line so 

 as to throw above and beyond it, I made a cast, and 

 almost simultaneously two fine fish dashed at the fly, 

 but without success. At the second cast I was more 



