132 SPRING-TIDE. 



You have him ! Up with your rod, and 

 shorten line. Quick, or he '11 gain that patch 

 of weeds. So, that 's right, he 's yours ; 

 lead him gently to the side and exhaust 

 him. Give me the landing-net, Simon. 

 No ! another plunge, and another. 



J. Shall I give him a little line? I 

 hope my tackle will hold him. My line 

 twangs like a bow-string ! 



S. Not an inch, but give the top of 

 your rod free play. He grows weak now 

 and turns on his side : I can land him. 

 There ! a fine fish, twenty inches at least ! 

 See, by pressing him I make him disgorge 

 three minnows, and yet he clutched at 

 your fly greedily. 



J. I thought it was the practice, with 

 so large a fish, to give out more line. 



S. It may be with some anglers, but 

 I have taken larger fish, and never returned 

 an inch of line after I had wound up. I 

 have always thought that the hazard is 



