94 SALMONIA. [FOURTH DAY. 



and it would have been too much to have anticipated 

 a courteous greeting from one, who considers us as 

 the representatives of an enemy. But I see there is 

 a large fish which has just risen at the tail of the pool. 

 I think he is fresh run from the sea, for the tide is 

 coming in. My fly and tackle are almost too fine for 

 so large a fish, and I will put on my first fly with a 

 very strong single gut link and a stretcher of triple 

 gut. He has taken my fly, and I hold him a 

 powerful fish: he must be between 10 and "151bs. 

 He fights well, and tries to get up the rapid at the 

 top of the pool. I must try my strength with him, 

 to keep him off that rock, or he will break me. I 

 have turned him, and he is now in a good part of the 

 pool : such a fish cannot be tired in a minute or two, 

 but requires from ten to twenty depending upon his 

 activity and strength, and the rapidity of the stream 

 he moves against. He is now playing against the 

 strongest rapid in the river, and will soon give in, 

 should he keep his present place. 



POIET. You have tired him. 



HAL. He seems fairly tired : I shall bring him in 

 to shore. Now gaff him ; strike as near the tail as 

 you can. He is safe ; we must prepare him for the 

 pot. Give him a stunning blow on the head to 

 deprive him of sensation, and then make a transverse 

 cut just below the gills, and crimp him, by cutting to 



