64 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



stone or rock-ledge. Hence, for every surface-fly seized, 

 a salmon would be compelled to rise through the entire 

 depth of the water. 



For these reasons, sufficing or otherwise, I conclude 

 that kelts do not take natural floating flies as a regular 

 means of subsistence ; though they may, and on occasion 

 do, snap at a passing March-brown by way of amusement,- 

 exercise, or from other inconsequent motive. 



Salmon-fishing, as a sport, stands second to no other, 

 whether in the skill required and the knowledge of one's 

 game that it involves ; as well as in the prolonged tension 

 of mind and muscle when handling a heavy fish. More- 

 over, and beyond all that, it cannot be artificialised. 

 Hence it is regrettable that salmon should still be netted 

 after their arrival within fresh-waters. By all means net 

 them in the open sea so long as local conditions warrant. 

 But netting in rivers — in the narrow waterways of British 

 rivers — is not fair-play; rather is it a "method of bar- 

 barism " that may fitly be relegated to Lapps, and Finns, 

 and such-like aborigines. 



The habits of the bull-trout {Salmo eriox) are, in 

 this river, North Tyne, more rational and comprehensible 

 than are those of the salmon, for he arrives later, and 

 spawns earlier ; hence his sojourn in fresh water ap- 

 proaches nearer the minimum. None arrive much before 

 July, until, according to a local adage, somewhat cryptic, 

 "the alder leaf is as big as a bull's eye." Then the fish 

 of this species begin to spawn much earlier — often during 

 the month of October. As a rule, they ascend the hill- 

 burns — often mere rivulets — for this purpose. One such 

 burnlet close to my house, which is sometimes stone-dry 

 all summer, is often occupied towards the end of October, 

 by many pairs of bull-trout running to 3 and even 4 



