CAPTURE OF A LEVIATHAN. 



" Now hope exults the fisher's beating heart, 

 Now he turns pale and fears his dubious art : 

 He views the tumbling fish with longing eyes, 

 While the line stretches with th' unwieldy prize, 

 Each motion humours with his steady hands, 

 And one slight hair the mighty bulk commands." 



GAY. 



IT was the 14th of October, 18G8, the last day 

 hut one of the season. The sport during the 

 previous fortnight had been unusually good. 

 Frequent rains towards the close of September 

 had succeeded a long period of drought, and after 

 the clearing of the water many heavy fish from 

 twenty-five to thirty-three pounds had been 

 taken, while a few of still greater weight had 

 been observed " travelling " up stream. My 

 destination on that morning was to a part of the 

 river about five miles above bridge, comprising 

 three or four pools beyond Orton, and as the 

 evenings were now beginning to close in rapidly, 



