66 PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 



exactly that the strain upon my rod did not vary 

 half an ounce from the first to the last of the 

 struggle. 



Toward the close of the fight, when it was evident 

 that the " jig was up " and I felt myself master of 

 the situation, I took my stand upon a projecting 

 point in the river, where the water was shallow and 

 where the most favorable opportunity possible was 

 afforded the gaffer to give the struggling fish the 

 final death-thrust, and so end the battle. It was 

 skillfully done. The first plunge of the gaff brought 

 him to the green sward, and there lay out before 

 me, in all his silver beauty and magnificent propor- 

 tions, MY FIRST SALMON. He weighed thirty pounds, 

 plump, measured nearly four feet in length, was 

 killed in fifty minutes and afforded me more plea- 

 sure than any event since well, say since Lee 

 surrendered. As he was thus spread out before 

 me, I could only stand over him in speechless 

 admiration and delight panting with fatigue, 

 trembling in very ecstacy, and exclaiming with 

 good old Sir Izaak : " As Dr. Boteler said of straw- 

 berries, ' Doubtless God could have made a better 

 berry, but doubtless God never did ; ' and so, if I 

 may judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, 

 innocent recreation than angling." 



This victory was a surfeit for the morning. With 

 other fish in full view, ready to give me a repetition 



