SALMON FISHING iii 



of the rod the angler starts with will leaven, all' the later ones. 

 Personally, we own to liking a spliced rod better than a 

 ferruled one ; but when in two pieces they are so difficult of 

 conveyance and so troublesome to put together that it is 

 pleasanter to use the ferrules, unless going to fish in the same 

 place for several days in succession, where the rod once put 

 up need not be taken down until it is time to depart. The 

 author swears by Farlow and eighteen feet of greenheart ; but 

 of late years we confess to having seen such fine rods of glued- 

 up cane that our allegiance to the old wood is wavering. 

 Their lightness is a great recommendation, and they cast as far 

 in the face of a wind as the stoutest greenheart, and there is 

 no doubt our old favourites will eventually be discarded in 

 favour of the more modern invention. 



The Spey-rod like the Spey-cast is a thing of itself, and to 

 the beginner, no matter how good he may be at the overhead 

 business, both rod and cast seem hopelessly impossible ; these 

 rods are always spliced, somewhat whippy, while the top joint, 

 instead of being straight, turns up in a way that is most 

 unsightly to the uneducated eye. In commencing to practise 

 the Spey-cast, the novice will often wind himself up in his 

 line ; and lucky if he do not drive the hook into his ears or 

 shoulders. After a period of this excitement, suddenly the 

 cast comes to him as far as a short line goes, but it will take 

 him weeks ere he can put out thirty yards. 



" Hoo aisey" it looks, to see the late "old Crookey" — we 

 beg his pardon, Mr. Cruickshank — as the Field and Scotsman 

 call him, putting out forty yards, while standing dryshod on 

 two little stones -on the bank of Pol Brock on the Wester 

 Elchies water ; we believe he held the title of " King of the 

 Spey" for many years, though Robertson, the famous Tulchan 

 fisherman, and Shiach at Aikenway could each run him close. 

 All anglers should try to attain the Spey-cast, for it is an 

 exceedingly useful one, which when well done drops the fly 

 on the water as true and as gently, and with no more splash 



