SEA-TROUT IN THE SHETLANDS 135 



if a fish jumps, and I never remember having 

 lost one thereby, so these were the tactics 

 pursued with that Shetland trout. 



When the mad rushes were over, there came 

 a heavy strain on the fine gut, the fish playing 

 very deep in water. Then came short rushes, the 

 spray spouting in a sort of V on the surface 

 where the line cut its way through the sea. 

 Then a steady but severe strain, the rod bending 

 to it. The gillie backed me slowly to the 

 fish just at the right pace to enable me to reel 

 in the line, and soon we could see the fish astern 

 of us, swimming upright and apparently not 

 the least incommoded by the full power of the 

 rod. I shall never forget the view of his broad, 

 greyish back, or the feeling of helplessness, 

 and of wonder whether I should ever get him 

 into the boat or whether the usual spot of rust 

 was rotting through the fine gut-point. A 

 quarter of an hour had passed away, seeming 

 like a week. I will cut short the remainder of 

 the tale, only adding that, in the end, the fish 

 swam past the boat still upright and apparently 

 still full of fight ; the gillie hastily shipped his 

 oar, and scooped him out just as I shouted 

 to prevent him from attempting so mad a 

 venture. He was a short fish, broad and very 

 deep, and he weighed just over 4 Jib. 



