AN ANGLER AT THE ANTIPODES. 115 



as it often will in the Clarence. He is coming in 

 at last. 



New Chum. An eel do you call it ? Why, it's the 

 great sea-serpent ! And what a handsome fish too ! 

 spotted like a leopard, reddish brown on a pale 

 yellow. 



Veteran. Ay, he is of the handsome variety. 

 There is another sort in the Clarence by no means 

 lovely to look upon a dirty olive-green, with not 

 even the belly bright or clear-tinted. I put him at a 

 dozen pounds but I have caught bigger when the 

 river has been thick. Hit him smartly over the tail, 

 or he'll make a hopeless mess of your line. That's 

 it now divide the spine just at the head, and he 

 is safe. 



New Chum. But how about my hook ? It would 

 take me an hour to get it out of his maw. 



Veteran. Pooh! cut it off and bend on another, 

 and try a whole herring for bait this time. Ah, ha ! 

 I've a run myself now ; no mistake about this chap ; 

 he is going away best pace. Come, this will do ; 

 there's gristes tertius for you ; a capital fish for the 

 table, though he hardly pulls 4 Ibs. It's -your turn 

 now ; throw well out toward the tail of the pool, 

 while I rest on my laurels and take a cigar. 



New Chum (after a pause). I have a fish now 

 there there he runs. Now then ! fast, for a hun- 

 dred. Such a fish ! pulls like the father of all pike. 



