Fables2_A Fish Story

FABLE II: A FISH STORY

One sunny afternoon I was drifting along in my boat on Lake Mead trying to catch one of the giant bass reputed to be in

residence in that body of water. Without warning, my line started going out and I knew instantly I had a world record on my

hands.

I set the hook hard and began a titanic struggle to reel the monster in. Every time I gained a foot, he fought back and

took three feet. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I managed to maneuver him up to the boat and into my net.

I then got my scale out so that I could verify that it was indeed a world record. The task of lifting the fish out of the water

and onto the scale drained so much of my remaining strength that as soon as I had ascertained his weight at 48 pounds 8

ounces I lost my grip and he splashed back into the water.

This time there was no stopping the gamester. He took off up the lake dragging the boat and me through the water,

sometimes so rapidly that the boat almost planed. Not until we reached the mouth of the Grand Canyon did he stop. Then I

was able to recapture him.

Alas, when I again weighed him I was stricken with remorse. He had lost so much weight dragging me across the lake

that he now weighed only 12 pounds 6 ounces. My hopes for a world record were shattered.