THOUGHTS ON BIG FISH 169 



pounds. I remember the clock striking ten as I 

 lifted it out in my landing-net. 



This was a fish of reasonable shape and solidity, 

 but I remember another big Blagdon trout which 

 was less satisfactory. This was also caught on a 

 dry fly. It had been found rising steadily just 

 inside a clump of weeds which was within easy 

 casting distance of the bank. It was feeding in 

 the very deliberate manner which is suggestive of a 

 heavy trout, and when after some time I persuaded 

 it to take a fly a hackle-fly not unlike the brown 

 silverhorns that were about in plenty I expected 

 something extra special in the way of a battle. 

 The result was surprising. The hooked fish hardly 

 resisted at all, gave a feeble waggle or two, and then 

 allowed itself to be towed ashore. The reason for 

 this was plain then it was very badly deformed. 

 Though it had the length and framework of a big 

 one, it also had a double spinal curvature, and, as 

 might be expected, was anything but athletic, and 

 poorly nourished to boot. The surprising thing 

 was that the fish, a rainbow, had been able, despite 

 physical disabilities which must have attended it 

 from the fry stage, to live and grow to a weight of 

 nearly three pounds. 



Rainbows are rather apt to be disappointing on 

 the scales because of their short life and their 



