A Sportsman at Large 207 



into mid-stream. It had all my line and half the " backing " 

 out. When at last it showed signs of fatigue, it kept rolling 

 over and over, and thus managed to wrap the whole of the 

 cast around its gills and body. So I had to lug it (or rather 

 her for it proved to be a hen-fish) by main force across the 

 broad stretch of river before she was safely impaled. This 

 also was a perfectly fresh run fish. 



Thus ended our day. I think you will agree that it was 

 a thoroughly sporting one, and such as offered a happy augury 

 for the rest of our stay. 



On Sunday, Peter was not available ; whether it was on 

 account of religious scruples, or because he had celebrated 

 our sport of the previous day not wisely but too well, I 

 am unable to say with exactitude. 



Not having such scruples, or such leaden-headed oppression 

 (as the case might be), myself, I was keen on exploiting the 

 Sabbath on " the better the day the better the deed " prin- 

 ciple. I had carefully noted several very likely-looking 

 nooks and corners in the river, which Peter had passed by 

 contemptuously as being " No gued, yeu tink." These could 

 be easily fished from the bank, so I was determined to explore 

 them. 



As previously mentioned, I was greatly enamoured of one 

 particular pool which my trusty Norseman had condemned 

 as " no earthly." On the far side of this the banks were high 

 and overhanging. What looked to me like a most inviting 

 " lie " for fish was thus overshadowed the stream running 

 deep and dark. On the hils side there was a shelving beach 

 with a sprit of sand running out almost to mid-stream ; so 

 that by taking my stand thereon I was able to cover the 

 whole of the pool. Whilst fixing up, I was overjoyed to see 

 an undoubted salmon bulge under the opposite bank. 



To enter into minute details of how I struck, played and 

 landed my catch in this despised pool would only weary you ; 

 suffice it to say that, without moving from one spot, I gaffed 

 two salmon (fifteen pounds and eleven pounds), three grilse 

 (averaging four and a half pounds), and a nice sea-trout (two 

 and a half pounds), the last named being the first victim to 

 succumb. Another salmon I held only momentarily, and I 



