254 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



on them and witnessing all their tricks. Quite 

 suddenly a flash will illumine the dark water and 

 attract your eye, only to disappear, perhaps, before 

 you have outlined the cause. The most that you 

 can say of it is, " Surely that must have been a 

 fish." The next may be a bolder one or more 

 inquisitive, more playful, in a greater temper, or a 

 really hungry fish. The bolder fish will come up 

 and follow the bait for yards, time after time, just 

 to prove to himself, or to his comrades, how easily 

 he " could an he would;" or it maybe that he is 

 merely anxious to see more closely the curiosity 

 that you are offering to him. 



I deeply sympathise with the playful fish that 

 never meant anything but just to give your fly 

 a flap with his tail and gets hooked by that 

 appendage. Fancy his disadvantage! Useless it 

 is for him, at any rate, to open his mouth and shake 

 his head, or to try that nasty jag, jag, that some 

 salmon indulge in as they go about the bottom. 

 He cannot even rub his nose at a profit. 



Yes, I am really sorry for the salmon that gets 

 hooked when he meant only a bit of fun, and, if he 

 be quite a fresh-run fish and over 20 Ib. in weight, 

 perhaps one ought to put him back. 



" ' I weep for you/ the walrus said, 

 { I deeply sympathise.' 

 With sobs and tears he sorted out 

 Those of the larger size." 



Ford had one thus hooked, soon after this 



