i 



144 A CONFIDENT FRIEND. 



simply because the salmon did not lie in their usual 

 scats. 



A word or two I will now say about the management 

 of the cleik, which, although it seems simple enough, 

 requires some address. Take care, most worthy attend- 

 ant — for it is to you I speak — that in the effervescence of 

 your zeal you steer clear of the line, and that after you 

 have struck the fish you tow him steadily to the shore ; 

 and I beg, sir, to caution you, and just merely to hint, 

 that if you attempt one of your flourishes, and try to do 

 all at one rapid jerk, you will have decidedly the worst 

 of it. There must be two motions, — a strike, and a 

 havil. 



By way of illustration, I must tell you of a gentleman 

 who came to visit me whilst I lived on the banks of the 

 Tay, and was desirous of seeing a salmon caught before 

 he returned to the South ; so I launched my boat and 

 set to work. Now on these pressing occasions one has 

 commonly a blank day, instead of a show off: not so, 

 however, in the present instance, for in a short time I 

 killed six fish. "When I had subdued their strength, I 

 gave up the rod to my companion, who finished them 

 skilfully enough. These fish were from seven to twelve 

 pounds each, as well as I can recollect. I next hooked 

 a large and peremptory salmon ; and when he got weak I 

 could not land, on account of the alders which grew on 

 the margin of the river. 



*' Give me the cleik," said my confident friend; " let me 

 come at him. I should like to try my hand at that, as 

 well as at the rod, though it is a savage aflau\ Do you 

 tliink I can manage it ?" " I have no doubt of it," said I, 



