SMALL HIGHLAND STREAMS 97 



the ground, and noting its capabilities as to heather, 

 water supply, and the like, and the indications of the 

 presence of birds ; but I defy anyone to tell by the 

 appearance of a river in June or July what sort of 

 sport it is likely to afford in August and September. 

 I have seen streams that looked absolute perfection, 

 apparently alive with salmon, where it was really 

 hardly any use to fish during the autumn months ; and 

 there is nothing so disheartening as going on flogging 

 such water day after day without any real hope of 

 success. I dispute the proposition that a blank day 

 is sheer waste of time ; but I cannot say that it is 

 amusing to go on fishing pools when once you are 

 convinced that under no conditions can salmon be 

 caught in them at the time of year. I become filled 

 with hatred of the fish which jump over my line in 

 derision, or fling summersaults all round my fly, but 

 never take it ; and under such circumstances some 

 misguided men are driven to desperate courses, which 

 cannot be justified, but are in some measure palliated 

 by the temptation. 



It sounds trite and commonplace to say that those 

 who rely upon accounts of previous bags should 

 ascertain the time and method of their capture ; but 

 I have so often known people to take an autumn 

 river in spring or a spring river in autumn, that a 



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