114 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



deep, my wife draws my attention to a big fish, 

 which is evidently asleep. " Is it a Salmon ?" 

 she asks. I see at once it is a Pike. I try 

 him with a worm on the perch tackle. No use. 

 I then take off the worm, and tried to "snigger" 

 him, the way certain kind of sportsmen (?) catch 

 salmon. Dropping the hook down by the side 

 of the fish and jerking it rapidly upwards, I 

 am fast to the monster by the belly. It is all 

 done so quick that Esox Lucius is at the other 

 side of the river before I am aware ; but now 

 I have him in hand. With fine gut and foul 

 hooked I expect to be broken every moment ; but 

 I apply little pressure, and just pressure enough. 

 After making two or three fierce runs, taking out 

 about fifteen yards of line each run, and adding 

 a few somersaults to give variety to the scene, 

 Jack begins to show signs of exhaustion, and I 

 soon have him sick and helpless on the top of 

 the water, a fish to appearance about 10 Ibs. 

 Having no landing net or gaff, I cannot get him 

 landed owing to the water plants, which cover 



