88 PIKE FISHING. 



upon the finest gimp. We were fishing in preserved 

 water in a neighbouring western county, and had 

 hooked a pickerel a few odd pounds weight ; when 

 we were about to land the young gent, the gleaming 

 broadside of some larger relation of the family shone 

 in the background, an instant, and then a heavy tug 

 demonstrated the fact that our possession of the prey 

 was disputed. Comprehending the situation, we let 

 out line with the earnest hope that this considerate 

 exhibition of feeling would meet with due apprecia- 

 tion ; nor were we disappointed, for after the lapse of 

 a few minutes, which, under the circumstances it must 

 be admitted, seemed rather long ones, the fun began. 

 We were in sole possession of a light punt upon an 

 extensive sheet of water, and thus, having plenty of 

 sea room, we were rather confident as to the result. 

 At the first gentle touch of the rod, the fish ran out 

 fully half-a-hundred yards of line, at one impetuous 

 rush, despite the heavy strain placed upon the rod. 

 A heavier reserve was now put on the remaining 

 portion of line through the medium of the rod, but 

 here we discovered our command over him to be 

 considerably less than we calculated, for such was 

 the determination of the hooked fish to explore the 

 other side of the lake that the punt began to move in 

 chase. To reserve the remainder of our line would 

 tend to aggravate the nuisance, to let it run meant 

 disaster. Whilst we hesitated we unconsciously 

 stopped further supply of line, of which fact we 

 were forcibly reminded by the rapid motion of the 

 punt as it progressed across the water. Just as we 



