352 SPOKTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



had now overcome the chief part of the difficulty, although 

 getting up to the pool was no easy matter. This, however, 

 was satisfactorily accomplished, and, having taken up a con- 

 venient and secure position upon one of the large boulders 

 that formed the sides of the deep black basin into which the 

 cascade was impetuously rushing from above almost taking 

 away the sense of hearing I sat down to smoke a quiet 

 cigar after the fatigues of the descent, and prepare my 

 tackle in anticipation of a tartarre, spitchcock, or matelotte. 



I had not long to wait for evidence of the greedy nature 

 of the inhabitants of the pool, having scarcely made a cast 

 with a very tempting lobworm hardened by moss and cream, 

 when a very significant tug at once informed me that my 

 attentions had been appreciated, and, after some difficulty, 

 my captive having evidently some point cFappui, such as 

 stones or rocks at the bottom, I landed a fine eel of about 

 three pounds weight on the shingly bank. Every one who 

 in his youth has practised various clandestine modes of 

 ensnaring anguillse, remembers the inconveniences and trials 

 of temper he has been subjected to whilst attempting to 

 disengage the hook from the jaws or throat of the fish, the 

 slimy knots and desperate complexity into which his line 

 has been often drawn, and the necessary sacrifice of one half 

 of it on many occasions. 



I have always considered that, if practicable, immediate 

 decapitation of the eel with a large and sharp knife is by far 

 the most convenient mode of proceeding, as the struggles are 

 at once ended, and the twists and convolutions of the tackle 

 are more easily disentangled. Being provided with a knife 

 for this purpose, I was in the act of attempting to place my 

 slippery victim in a proper position beneath my foot for the 

 process of beheading, when I heard myself hailed by a loud 

 voice from above, which I could distinguish through the 

 noise of the waterfall, with " Halloo, mate ! what sport ?" 



