SPORT AT CAMPBELL RIVER 55 



self in the fields of incompetence. He makes 

 one or two feeble shots, and then, getting the 

 gaff well home, attempts to lift the fish as I 

 throw my weight on to the reverse side of the 

 light boat to prevent an upset. He heaves 

 with both hands, and a great head appears, 

 when crack goes the steel, and Mac sits down 

 heavily in the boat, looking supremely foolish. 

 I was not distressed, however, as that brief 

 view of the fish's head had shown me the hook 

 well placed ; moreover, I knew that somewhere 

 under the thwarts we possessed a goodly club. 

 Mac, after a few moments' search, produced 

 the truncheon, and, at the first attempt, 

 stunned the salmon with a well-directed blow, 

 and lifting it with his hand drew it into the 

 boat. Ha ! this is a fish indeed ; one of the 

 best of the season, we flatter ourselves, and 

 60 lb. for certain. But no; those cruel scales 

 blast our hopes by 3 lb. Still, a fifty-seven- 

 pounder is something to be proud of, and we 

 rowed home that night at peace with the 

 world. This, then, is Campbell River fishing 

 for the great tyee salmon. If you wish to 

 collect records you can do so by sitting all day 

 in your boat for a month and using a tarpon- 

 rod, which kills the biggest fish in two minutes, 

 and a Vom Hof e reel, which carries a drag that 

 would stop a buffalo." 



