LANDING THE FISH. 33 



line by keeping it too tight on the fish. He 

 now makes shorter journeys, and seems in- 

 clined to come to shore ; hold him a little 

 tighter, and feel if he will allow you to raise 

 and show him, but be collected and careful. 

 If fishing from the shore, try to lead him 

 to the nearest opening in the rushes. Keep 

 your line free, for he will possibly for a few 

 moments be more violent than ever, as if he 

 were determined to break the strongest tackle. 

 Give him a few turns more, and he will be 

 quiet enough. Now draw him again in-shore, 

 making it a rule to float him on his side, and 

 keeping the head a little raised above the 

 surface of the water, so that the nose or gills 

 may not hang to, or catch hold of, weeds, etc., 

 while you are thus engaged in landing your 

 prize ; for sometimes you cannot avoid draw- 

 ing your fish over or among the weeds ; and if 

 not careful to raise the head, a Pike will often 

 touch and get entangled in this way, and 

 before it can be got clear will recover from its 

 exhaustion, and occasion some amount of 

 trouble and hazard before it can be again sub- 

 dued. If you have a friend with you with a 

 landing-net or gaff-hook, your fish is easily 

 landed ; but if you are alone, and without a 

 gaff, then draw him as close as possible, and 

 keeping the line tight, grasp the Pike behind 

 the gills, and throw him up a few yards on the 

 grass. 



Although it is sometimes necessary to play 



3 



