70 I GO A -FISHING. 



circle, refusing utterly every invitation to make the ra- 

 dius shorter. 



" How much does he weigh, Doctor ?" 



" Five pounds, if an ounce, and something more ; he's 

 by far the biggest and the strongest fish I ever struck in 

 these waters." 



"Be patient, Doctor." 



" Hum." 



"Take it easy, old friend. Don't get excited. Keep 

 your nerves steady, and your brain — " 



" Shut up, will you, John ?" 



" Can't you take advice ? You're fond of giving it. 

 Look out there ! Jove, what a rush that was !" 



And so it was. The trout had made a sudden dash 

 for deeper water. The Doctor could not spare twelve 

 yards more of line, and, as he saw it going out, he fol- 

 lowed his fish into the lake. Fortunately it shoaled off 

 gradually, but he did not turn the obstinate trout till he 

 stood in three feet of water; and there he stood for near- 

 ly ten minutes while the contest went on. Nearer and 

 nearer to him came the trout, then he was off again ; then 

 nearer by a slow reeling-in, then away with a mad rush. 

 But at last he gave up suddenly; as fat fish are apt to do ; 

 and the fisherman, bringing him up to his side, having 

 no landing-net, dexterously passed his hand under his 

 throat, and, burying thumb and finger in his gills, walked 

 ashore with a trout that weighed five pounds and seven 

 ounces on the scales at the Rookery when we reached 

 home. 



This was the largest trout that had been killed in that 

 neighborhood within the memory of man. And the 

 brook trout is not found in many localities as large. In 

 Maine I have seen many brook trout weighing over eight 



