142 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



from the rocky side, drawing at first rather quickly, 

 that your fish may take your fly in the current, 

 which is material. In very low water, indeed, 

 when the fish may be said to give over rising, you 

 may try your luck in the rapids by hanging your 

 fly on them ; indeed, you should always let your 

 fly dwell on this sort of water, or the fish will 

 either lose sight of it, or not choose to follow 

 where you may wish him. All these things are 

 not easily explained in writing, nor, I believe, in 

 conversation, as will appear from the following 

 example. 



A friend of mine went with two companions to 

 fish in the river Morar, on the coast of Inverness- 

 shire. One of these two comrades was a young 

 Oxonian, and a novice ; the other was an ex- 

 perienced fisherman. They were all three in one 

 of those Highland shielings, redolent of peat smoke 

 and whisky, which is absolute luxury to a thorough- 

 bred sportsman, as being in keeping and character 

 with the nature of his pursuit. The Oxonian was 

 an excellent person, but, as I have hinted, knew 

 nothing upon earth about salmon fishing ; so Mr. 

 E. C, who was an adept in the said art, set about 

 instructing him by word of mouth. The third 

 person of the party happened not to coincide with 

 the excellence of the simple instructions he was 

 giving, and laid it down as an axiom, that it was 

 impossible to catch a fish, unless your fly was at 

 right angles to your rod. This seemed not at all 

 to be comprehended ; and after a little arguing, the 

 said oracle, by way of illustration, took a stick, 

 tied his handkerchief to it, and gave a few throws 



