EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 71 



I am a believer in dressing flies by the river- 

 side after tlie pattern on tlie water, at least for 

 salmon or sea-trout fishing. Lastly, R. M. was 

 a capital game shot, and therefore his dogs, 

 when he had patience to give them time, were 

 very good. 



I suppose I must say something about my- 

 self, but it won't be much. The reader will, by 

 this time, have found out that I am passionately 

 fond of dogs, and not averse to sport of any 

 kind; but, though shooting from childhood 

 almost, not being early accustomed to good 

 shooting, I never learnt to shoot. I was never 

 quick, almost always most uncertain, and never 

 could ascertain why, from youth till now, I 

 remained decidedly a most indifferent shot, 

 though I might be able to hit a haystack flying. 

 I was and am passionately fond of fishing, and 

 have killed a great number of fish in my Hfe ; 

 but I never could throw — and never, I presume, 

 shall be able to throw — a line as it ought to be 

 thrown. I threw from the shoulder, not the 

 wrist. I could kill a fish when I got hold of 

 him — that I could do ; and I never tired of 

 fishing as long as fish were worth catching. 

 The moment they get red and full of spawn, 

 their heads big, and long snouts — bah ! I don't 

 care for them. I attempted dressing flies, and 



