THE HARAKA CLUB. 219 



but I said, " No, Johann, thou errest ; for a lohi has 

 me, or rather I have a lohi ; for lo ! does not the 

 supple rod bend like the willow in the gale, and my 

 line run out as fast as I can pay it to the monster 

 which is pulling at it ? " Johann, piercing the dark- 

 ness with his eyes, noted the appearance of the rod, 

 and heard the crink, crink of the reel, and uttered an 

 excited " Ja, ja, un lohi ! " and worked the boat to 

 shore, where the fish came heavily in after several 

 severe tugs and splashes betokening large dimensions, 

 and then bored under the boat, into which Johann 

 dexterously pitchforked him. As we had guessed, he 

 bore down the scale to exactly 171b., a splendid male 

 mahogany ferox. 



July 14. Went out and picked up four fish 151b., 

 13|lb., 141b., and lOflb. lost one large one, which 

 was fairly on his side, by the man laying hold of the 

 line to gaff him. I did not swear once, but the man 

 did; he was thoroughly ashamed of himself. Next 

 morning a fish of llflb., and one of 16^1b., and, soon 

 after, one of 9^1b., then one of 211b., then one of 91b., 

 which last was the gamest I ever killed, and full of 

 fight. Next followed fish of 9lb., 161b., 91b., 71b., 

 and 151b. a very fair bag; gross weight 161 fib. in 

 all, of which the greater part were killed in the forty- 

 eight hours. 



July 17. Up early and did nothing. Weather 

 unfavourable; thunder growling in the distance. The 

 evening turned out fine at last. Mr. C. opened the 

 ball with a 13p). trout; then Capt. H. and Mr. W. 



