32 ANGLING IN GREAT BRITAIN. 



above Clonmel, the Moy and lakes at Ballina, the Bally- 

 nahinch pools, the streams and lakes of County Donegal, 

 and all kindred salmon haunts. 



The trout angler who stands up for the superiority of 

 his favourite amusement must, spite of his prejudices, 

 admit that the capture of a salmon, upon legitimate terms, 

 is the most exciting of all feats of piscatorial prowess. 

 Afar off, as he fishes fruitlessly down the river bank, 

 strewed with smooth-washed boulders, he espies the move- 

 ment of a fish ; not the dainty rise that scarcely attracts 

 observation, but a heavy roll over. He has been long 

 looking for some such token ; has honestly worked every 

 inch of the water, from the falls to the rapids, and from 

 the rapids to this darksome pool. He has tried short casts 

 and long casts ; has humoured the fly slowly, now on the 

 top, now sunken, and has jerked it with energy ; has tried 

 all the flies approved and recommended, small and large, 

 and to no avail. Here at last is his chance. But nothing 

 less than 20 yards will bring him to that unmistakable 

 fish. 



Now let him pause awhile, and run his fingers down the 

 cast to the fly, making sure that unawares to him the 

 tackle has not been frayed by the trial it has already 

 undergone. Let everything be done leisurely and in order. 

 The salmon will not move far from where the angler saw 

 him gambolling. What he has chiefly to do is to take things 

 quietly. He must not bother himself — I am assuming that 

 he is not an old hand at the salmon business — by recalling 

 all the advice he has heard and read as to the regulation 

 conduct at this supreme moment, nor allow his attendant 

 to disturb him with his advice. Let him take his own 

 course. He has to dispatch his fly so that it shall intro- 

 duce itself to salmo's notice in a genteel and natural 



