136 SALMONID^ OF BRITAIN. 



of the salmon family whicli could or could not pass through meshes of certain 

 diameters. 



2 in. between bars, 3i lb. peal will pass : 4 lb. will not. 

 2^ „ „ ,, up to 5 lb. „ ,, : 5i lb. will barely pass. 



Meshes, li in. — 3j lb. peal will pass : 4 lb. will not pass. 

 j> 1^ )> ^4 lb. ,, ,, : b lb. ,, 



As regards angling for salmon, it will be impossible to here enter upon all the 

 various modes of fly-fishing in fresh waters whicli are recommended for the 

 capture of this king of fresh-water fishes. The reader must be referred for this 

 purpose to cunning treatises on the gentle craft, from whence he may obtain 

 information given by experienced anglers, as to how to wade, fish from a boat or 

 a coracle, or the banks of a river — what rod will be best suited for his purpose, 

 the most appropriate reel or line, and, lastly, the best description of fly. For 

 these latter differ in different waters, and may be said to generally resemble 

 nothing that is normally found in the earth, air, or silvery stream ; while the tyro 

 is usually warned not to strike too soon, but when he does so to do it with no 

 uncertain stroke. Lastly, the proa and cons as to whether to employ a gaff or 

 landing net in order to secure a hooked fish have to be considered. 



In some places fresh or boiled shrimps or prawns are used as a bait by anglers. 

 They may be boiled in a saucepan of water to which a handful of saltpetre has 

 been added, removing them as soon as they turn colour; they are then dried 

 singly on a cloth, and, when quite dry, ai'e placed in layers in a glass or earthen- 

 ware wide-mouthed jar, whicli is then filled up with glycerine, and they may be 

 kept so for months (see Major Treherne, Badminton Series, Salmonida?, p. 3G1). 

 Salmon arc found to sometimes take them when they will not look at an artificial 

 minnow, which, however, is a killing bait under certain conditions. Live bait is 

 usually tried within tidal influence, where the artificial fly has also been known to 

 have proved successful. Now and again a salmon is taken by a minnow. 



Rod fishing* is sometimes put a sudden stop to by the unexpected presence of 

 otters, which drive the fish from the fords into deep pools. While poachcrsf some- 

 times stone salmon off the shallows while scouring, and an accomplice with a gaff 

 secures the alarmed fish as it dashes down the stream. 



A form of sport which used to be common in many parts, but is now illegal, is 

 spearing J salmon by torch-light, so well described by Sir Walter Scott in " Guy 

 Mannering." 



Dogs§ have frequently been trained to assist fishermen in their work, and 

 Yarrell related how a poacher in the Dart used to fix his trammel net at the lower 

 end of a deep pool. He then sent his dog, which had been trained for the 



* When illegally fly-fisliing for salmon-fry a killing bait is said to be a maggot or bit of wliite 

 kid either on the lly or on a bare hook. 



f In some rivers, as the North Esk, a method of illegal fishing was said to have been in 

 existence, even to recent years, and pursued by some anglers, although elsewhere it is generally 

 left to the poachers. It is termed sniggering, sniggling, raking, grappling, or dragging, and in 

 England as strokchalling, or snatching, and is thus carried on. When the water is low, and the 

 fish are collected in a pool and refuse the fly, a hook is weighted with lead, or the fly alone is sunk, 

 or even a triangle of hooks or grapples may be used, and these are dragged through the water 

 with the purpose of foul-hooking salmon. Or this may be done by using a short line to which a 

 couple of hooks are attached, then sinking the end of the rod in the river, they are dragged along. 

 Although some fish are doubtless taken in this manner, many break away injured, often fatally 

 so ; and one can well understand that the District Board of the North Esk are unanimously of 

 opinion that in any new Act steps should be taken to put down this unsportsmanlike practice, 

 which might well be brought to the notice of any Society that cared to interfere where useless 

 cruelty to animals is carried on. 



X Spearing or leistering salmon by torch-light, was thus remarked upon by Fraser {Sahuon. 

 1833, p. 20), that he had known several fords of spawning-ground almost cleared of male 

 breeders in one night. The females are more wary, and if they obtain a single glance of the torch- 

 light will at once run into deep water, but in a few minutes will wheel round and return to their 

 beds. 



§ W., in The Field, November 8th, 1884, observed, " Major Gleig, fishing in the Eamont, a 

 tributary of the Eden, got a 16 lb. salmon under very curious circumstances. The fish was fairly 

 well hooked, and gave promise of some excellent play before being brought to book. No sooner 

 did he begin to show himself in tire water, however, than a Dandie Dinmont, the companion of 



