DEVII FISHING. 83 



a sort of compliment, paid after the aquatic fashion 

 of his Galwegian force, I don't pretend to say ; but 

 certain it is, that while he had him down, as it 

 were, and off his guard , John did not repeat the 

 blow ! In a few minutes, the fish, flourishing his 

 tail aloft by way of salute, plunged downwards for 

 his depths, and doubtless reported to his compatriots 

 the hard usage he had received from a denizen of 

 the thinner element above. In another minute the 

 sea closed over him his wake was no more seen 

 not a ripple was left on the surface, and the inci- 

 dents just told, living only in the memory of the 

 sportsman, seemed vague and shadowy as a dream. 



Subsequently to the publication of the first edi- 

 tion of " Carolina Sports," I made frequent expedi- 

 tions in pursuit of devil-fish ; but I shall not tax the 

 patience of my reader by more than an occasional 

 allusion to them. So similar in general were the 

 incidents attending them, that the narrative of one, 

 might almost serve for all. Instead of detailed 

 statements of these excursions, therefore, the reader 

 may expect to find in the pages now appended, only 

 such incidents as are new, or such suggestions as 

 may serve to throw light on what is obscure or 

 unexplained in the habits of the fish. 



