138 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



hold to be an invaluable secret, and is the only 

 change that during my long practice I have found 

 eminently successful. 



Having now named all things necessary for the 

 sport, 1 must now advise all fishermen, Cockneys 

 in particular, to provide themselves with plenty of 

 spare tackle before they go felicity-hunting ; for in 

 the wilds of Scotland it is not easy to replace any 

 loss that inexperience and ill fortune may occasion. 



A friend of mine told me a circumstance, by 

 which it appeared that a very worthy person was 

 considerably embarrassed for want of this due 

 precaution. This said friend had been fishing in 

 the river Shiel in Inverness-shire, and was seated 

 on a bank with a large salmon before him that he 

 had just caught. He was eyeing the fish with com- 

 placency, and smoking a cigar in all the enjoyment 

 of success. Whilst in this tranquil mood, a man 

 suddenly vaulted over the wall of the Shiel bridge ; 



" And when he had not the least suspicion, 

 Was with him like an apparition.' 1 



This man he described to me as fresh in his attire. 

 Thin and new were his shoes, new also was his 

 jacket, new his waistcoat, and novel his pantaloons ; 

 but newest of all was his top- varnished salmon rod, 

 turned out by Eaton : but he was shabbily thatched, 

 his hat being worse than common. His flies, to all 

 appearance, were made by the Turks — men for- 

 bidden by their religion to imitate any of the 

 works of the Creation. As for the man himself, 

 no one could look at him without being put in 

 mind of Mantalini. 



