90 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
later the fish began to show unmistakable signs 
of exhaustion. After it had turned on its side 
two or three times, I managed to bring it near 
the boat, which C. had moored near the bank. 
Just before the fish came within reach of the gaff 
it made another short rush, and once more turned 
on its side. Again I coaxed the great fish towards 
the boat. Nearer and nearer he came, and then 
in a moment C. had the gaff in him, and with a 
mighty effort lifted him into the boat. The fish 
was a cock -fish, and weighed SSj lb. After 
examining him we came to the conclusion that he 
was about the same size as the one I had lost in 
the preceding year, but probably longer. He had 
evidently been wounded in his side by a seal a 
fortnight previously, and though this wound had 
healed, it must have caused the fish to lose several 
pounds' weight. When hung up beside the other 
fish of 214 lb. and 18 J lb. he looked huge, and 
had the advantage of some inches over my little 
grandson, who was nearly five years old. His 
length was 50| inches and girth 24 inches, and had 
it not been for the wound inflicted by the seal he 
would, no doubt, have turned the scale well over 
40 lb. So ended what was for me a day never to 
be forgotten. I had six more days' fishing, and 
