188 AUTUMN ANGLING 



a few refreshing showers, only some of the deeper 

 pools came into low trim, quickly falling back again 

 to their thin clear state. The Garth keeper, however, 

 being well acquainted with the upper water, and 

 also having a good idea both of the size and colour 

 of the salmon flies, no time was lost, when the 

 clouds now and then grudgingly favoured us with 

 their driblets. Long before they were needed, I 

 had tied, by the light of the glorious July sun, 

 every variety of summer and autumn salmon fly 

 that the river in its most exacting state could 

 demand. 



A previous day and night of rain brought the 

 keeper at the end of the month to say there was 

 " plenty water." On running down to the river- 

 side it was too thick and drumly for fly, and an 

 old roadman volunteered the advice that " she was 

 ower big for fishing." Better too big than too 

 small, thought I ; so the casts for to-morrow were 

 carefully arranged, with rod, gaff, and bag ready 

 at a moment's notice. 



Next morning we were off for the high pools at 

 eight o'clock, in spite of a hazy atmosphere and 

 drizzling rain. While plodding past the first 



