BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



pretty swiftly down the streams, broadside in front, striking 

 many fish, till we came near the Elfin Burn, when, observing 

 that the water-break in the centre of the river, caused by a 

 concealed rock, was more gentle than usual, I thought the boat 

 would strike, so I called out to Charlie for caution. 



' " Hout, tout ! he mun let her gang : there is plenty of 

 water to take her over." 



' Charlie Purdie was never more mistaken in his life ; the 

 stream drove us downward at a rapid race, notwithstanding 

 we in some measure moderated it by capping our best with the 

 leisters. Bang went the boat's broadside right against the 

 rock, to which she stuck fast till the stream above poured into 

 her in the most effective possible style, and down she went of 

 course. The water, however, was by no means deep ; but 

 those fish, which we had taken since the load went home, 

 found their way again into the river, and began to vanish down 

 the streams. Being deprived of life, they Avent passively 

 along, followed by all the boat's crew, who rushed about and 

 charged with their leisters, " Hurry, hurry, splash, splash," 

 till they fished out most of them, the remainder being left to 

 solace the eels. This in common parlance would be called a 

 disaster ; a sort of shipwreck in miniature ; but judging from 

 the merriment it excited, it might be deemed the best sport of 

 the night.' 



The heaviest salmon ever landed by an angler was one of 

 69^ lb. killed by the then Earl of Home on the Tweed. The 

 late Mr. Henry Ffennell thought this might be accepted as 

 authentic. Other large fish killed in Scottish rivers are : 

 Mr. Haggard, 61 pounder on the Stanley water of the Tay, 

 1870 ; Mr. J. B. Lawes' 54 pounder on the Awe, near Dalmally, 

 1877 ; the keeper on the Ardoe water. Dee, 57 pounder ; Mr. 

 Pryor on the Floors water, Tweed, 57| pounder, 1886; Mr. 

 Bruton at Mertoun, 55 poimder, 1889; and the Marquis of 

 Zetland on the Stanley water, Tay, 55 pounder, 15th October 

 1895. 



These are some of the heaviest Irish fish : a 58 pounder on 



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