310 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



that some big fish were known to lie there, especially near some 

 bushes overhanging the water, I fished it down with a Durham 

 ranger, letting the fly sink and come in well towards the bank. 

 Hardly had it passed the first bush when there was a tug, that 

 incomparable sensation, and I was fast in a fish. No doubt, too, 

 it was a big one, for it moved about in a stately fashion up and 

 down, across to the other bank, and back again, pressing very 

 heavily on the rod, and not playing pranks like small fry. He 

 pulled and pulled, gave those horrible jerks and tugs than which 

 nothing is more trying. For a long time we got no view 

 of him ; he kept deep down near the bottom, and half an hour 

 passed and my arms were very tired before, at last, we were 

 allowed to get a faint glimpse of his magnificent proportions. 

 After one more procession across the river, the line unreeling 

 slowly, he returned tired, rolling about near the surface, and 

 almost ready to give up the battle. The fish was so heavy 

 and had been on so long, that I became anxious about the hook 

 holding, anxiety only to be relieved when at last the gaff had got 

 a firm hold and lifted him on to the bank. Until then, and 

 indeed not until suspended from the steelyard, had we any idea 

 of his real weight he pulled down 33 J Ibs. and was a 

 beautifully proportioned fish, and one to be decidedly proud 

 of. A great friend of mine and enthusiastic fisherman at that 

 time always finished his letters to me by strongly advising 

 a "tight line," and here was a case in point, for when the 

 fish touched the grass and the line slackened, the hook fell 

 out of his mouth ! 



This fish, apparently, had lain close under the bank, but 

 as a rule they were to be " met " in those smooth, glassy-looking 

 patches about the centre of the river, which proclaim a sandy 

 bed ; thence they followed the lure as it crossed, but taking only 

 when it approached the bank. This I witnessed two or three 

 times, and on one occasion the fish was just about to seize 

 the minnow, when, unfortunately, he saw me standing almost 

 above him; he quickly retired to safer quarters. 



Full of hope, I fished this short stretch several times after- 

 wards, but although a few fish showed themselves, never would 

 another accept my invitation. When on this water we generally 

 had luncheon at the ivy-covered ruin of a very old castle near an 

 ancient abbey, green with ivy also. A handsome, very solid 



