94 THE SALMON 



occupant, who is seated facing the broad end with a 

 foot in each corner, works by making figures of eight 

 either in front or at the side. Of course it is im- 

 possible to propel these crafts against the wind or 

 stream, but they draw little water, and are very easily 

 carried on the back, a strap running through the seat 

 being placed round the neck. A gentleman living in 

 the neighbourhood of Usk used to do great execution 

 in the Association waters, fishing before him from a 

 coracle with a short rod made on purpose : as he was 

 able to avail himself of certain long pools with bushes 

 on each side which were too deep for wading and 

 could not be approached from the banks. I 

 remember being greatly impressed by his success 

 during a visit to that river, when I was very lucky 

 myself for the first three days after a flood, after which 

 the fishermen came down in too great numbers, and 

 nearly every pool was occupied by an early hour 

 in the morning. I took one of the coracles home 

 with me to Kent, and used it for pike fishing in a pond, 

 finding it by no means so difficult to manage or easy 

 to capsize as I should have supposed from its 

 appearance. I sometimes wonder that they are not 

 used for small reedy hill lochs in Scotland, as they can 

 be bought for a few shillings, copied by any carpenter 

 of ordinary intelligence, carried with great ease, and 



