THE LUCK OF SALMON FISHING 89 
clean -run hen -fish, and weighed 18 Jib. The 
question now was whether we should fish another 
pool lower down the river or try the head of the 
same pool again. 1 decided in favour of the latter 
course, and we accordingly rowed up to the top of 
the pool. It was by this time half-past six. My 
third cast I was into another fish, which did not 
show itself for a long time. It took me down the 
river like the fish I had hooked in the morning, 
but was not nearly so lively in its movements. It 
kept low down in the water and adopted boring 
tactics. After rounding the corner, as my fellow- 
angler would have said, bound once more for 
Hereford, the fish made a violent rush and plunge, 
showing itself to be a very big fish and looking not 
unlike the fish I had parted company with a year 
ago. We continued to go steadily dow^n the river, 
the fish making strong rushes, but keeping down 
and moving about in a stately, heavy fashion. We 
gradually reached the spot where we had gaffed 
the 21J-pounder in the morning, our movements 
being watched by the ladies of our party from the 
opposite bank. The fish showed little sign of 
giving in, and about 8 p.m. the spectators on the 
bank, seeing no likelihood of the battle being 
ended at present, went home. About ten minutes 
12 
