AN ANGLER AT THE ANTIPODES. 115 
as it often will in the Clarence. He is coming ‘in 
at last. 
New Chum. An eel do you call it? Why, it’s the 
great sea-serpent! And what a handsome fish too! 
spotted like a leopard, reddish brown on a pale 
yellow. 
Veteran, Ay, he is of the handsome variety. 
There is another sort in the Clarence by no means 
levely to look upon—a dirty olive-green, with not 
even the belly bright or clear-tinted. I put him ata 
dozen pounds—but I have caught bigger when the 
river has been thick. Hit him smartly over the tail, 
or he'll make a hopeless mess of your line. That’s 
it—now divide the spine just at the head, and he 
is safe. 
New Chum. But how about my hook? It would 
take mean hour to get it out of his maw. 
Veteran. Pooh! cut it off and bend on another, 
and try a whole herring for bait this time. Ah, ha! 
T've a run myself now ; no mistake about this chap ; 
he is going away best pace. Come, this will do; 
there’s gristes tertius for you; a capital fish for the 
table, though he hardly pulls 4 Ibs. It’s your turn 
now ; throw well out toward the tail of the pool, 
while I rest on my laurels and take a cigar. 
New Chum (after a pause). I have a fish now— 
there—there he runs. Now then! fast, for a hun- 
dred, Such a fish! pulls like the father of all pike. 
