54 ABT OP 



see he is a fish worth bagging, but keep steady, and 

 have your line all free, for he will now, for a short 

 time, be more violent than ever. Try and lead him 

 down to yon opening, at which place I see the 

 water is nearly on a level with the marsh (a famous 

 place, indeed, to land a fish, especially if the angler 

 is alone, and without a landing hook), he seems a 

 good deal weakened, yet the danger is not all 

 passed : now draw him nearer the shore, and again 

 raise and give him a little fresh air : ah ! now he is 

 angry and growing desperate, but keep steady, for I 

 think we are all over right. See how he extends 

 his monstrous jaws, showing his numerous teeth, 

 red gills, and capacious throat: observe how he 

 shakes his head, and flings himself over and out of 

 the water, as if he was determined to break and 

 destroy the strongest tackle; but steady, keep all 

 clear and free. Now bring him near shore again ; 

 still he shakes himself violently, and has thrown 

 another somerset in the air ; it is all very well ; give 

 him a few turns more, and he will be tame enough : 

 now draw him close in shore. I see he is quite 

 exhausted, and floats motionless on his side; hold 

 his head a little up, that the jaws or gills do not 

 touch or hang to a weed : that is it : now grasp him 

 with both hands just below the head and shoulders, 

 behind the gills, and hoist or chuck him a few yards 



