and the Maritime Provinces. 



77 



Photo, by L. R. Howe. 



With a Stroke of the Gaff. 



Down the pool we raced again, but my blood was up to such a degree 

 that I gave the fish " the butt " without stint. The salmon again sank to the 

 bottom, but his strength seemed failing, and in his next run I succeeded in 

 turning him on his side, when, stepping back on the shore and holding the 

 rod well up, I drew him nearer and nearer, and at last, with a stroke with 

 the gaff, Hiram lifted him from the water. 



" A pretty fish, altogether," exclaimed the guide, "and a gamy fighter." 



"Yes, he 's a good one," said the Judge, who had now joined us; "a 

 male, and one not long in the river." 



" How heavy " ? shouted the Doctor from across the pool, as we 

 weighed the fish. 



"Twenty-one pounds and a half," I replied. 



"Good enough," was the answer; "it's time for supper; what say 

 you, shall we give it up for to-night " ? 



" All right," responded the Judge ; and it was not long before we 

 reached our tent. 



"Yesterday, gentlemen, I poured a libation in honor of my first fish 

 of the season, and now I propose to do the same for this one." 



We gladly joined with him, and the modicum of Bourbon was taken 



