PISCATOK AND VENATOR 173 



mutatis mutandis, actuates the fisherman, and, unless 

 it leads to any jealous and underhand advantages 

 taken over a competitor, it is surely justifiable and 

 even laudable. And it may be noted that it is much 

 easier to be sure that the conditions of the competi- 

 tion are fair in fishing than in deer-stalking. Such 

 salmon as his beat contains are at the disposal of the 

 angler to catch if he can ; but it is by no means so 

 certain that the stalker will give all visitors a chance 

 of shooting an exceptionally fine stag, even if he spies 

 one. Big salmon are • here to-day and gone to- 

 morrow,' and an exceptionally large fish is never 

 specially preserved for a favoured guest or the Laird 

 himself ; but in some places it is not everyone who is 

 allowed a chance at the modern representatives of 

 Club-foot or the ' Muckle Hart of Benmore." Again, 

 it is usually more difficult to land a very heavy fish 

 than one of moderate size. The mere weight and 

 bulk tell on the tackle and the hold, and it is not 

 only on account of the lying propensities of anglers 

 that the biggest salmon get away : but a monster stag 

 is no more difficult to approach than a small one, 

 and presents an even larger mark for the rifle. 

 Another advantage that I claim for fishing is that, 

 whereas it is always something gained to catch even 

 a very small grilse, it may be that when you have 



