SALMON FISHING 



80 yards which were out, I followed down to the big round pool 

 below, where, to my surprise, I became aware that he was still 

 on. He made but a feeble resistance, and after a fight of two 

 hours and forty minutes, we got the clips into as gallant a fish 

 as ever left the sea — weight, 19i lbs. and new run. The last 

 hour and a half was in a roaring white flood. The fly was, as 

 you may imagine, well " chained up." ' 



Let us, forgoing a picture of salmon fishing to-day, glance 

 at the long proscribed sport of Burning the Water as pictured 

 by William Scrope. Should the well-ordered mind be shocked 

 by this tale of carnage, be it remembered that the author lived 

 in an age when thirty fish might be caught where one is killed 

 now. 



' The boat in general use for burning at night is larger than 

 the rod-fishing boats, as more room and steadiness is required. 

 In the centre of it, close to the side on which the leisterers strike 

 the fish, is a pole fixed vertically, with a frame at top of it 

 formed of ribs of iron, to contain the combustibles. Three 

 men are sufficient to man the boat ; one at the head, another at 

 the stern, as boatmen and leisterers, and the third at the centre 

 to kill the fish and trim the fire. But it will contain more men, 

 if necessary. 



' The remainder of the day having been spent in making the 

 arrangements, and the proper hour being now come, Harry Otter 

 and Charlie Purdie went out from the Pavilion to meet the 

 party, who were to assemble at eight o'clock about a mile and 

 a half up the river. The night was most favourable, it being 

 utterly dark, and not a sough of air stirring. With caution 

 and with difficulty they felt their way step by step at the rocky 

 base of the Scaur, where it dips into the river, till they descried 

 the boat which was to take them across it at the Brig-end pool. 

 The clanking of the chain as it was loosened and flung on the 

 planks sounded harshly in the silence of night ; the oars dipped 

 dully, and they were soon on the opposite side of the river, by 

 which means they cut off a great sweep of the haugh, " a huge 



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