224 MINNOW AND PARK. 



a much firmer hold of the hook, not breaking like the 

 soft parts of the minnow. 



Clean salmon will take this bait whenever the river 

 is in order for the fly, or perhaps a little before it is so, 

 even when the water is slightly discoloured, or, as the 

 fishermen call it, drumly. But foul fish, including 

 kelts, never take it Avell in the upj^er parts of the Tweed, 

 unless the water is clear, though they Avill take it in a 

 drumly water in the Tay ; nor can any sport be expected 

 with it in very warm weather. 



The best state of the water, and the most convenient 

 time, is between the fly and bait fishing ; that is, when it 

 is rather too low for the one, but not low enough for the 

 other. The best weather is a fresh day, with wind to 

 act upon the surface of the deep pools. In summer the 

 proper hour is early in the morning. After a night's 

 burning, salmon take the minnow, small parr, or parr's 

 tail, particularly well in the streams. 



The best way of casting the minnow is precisely that 

 which I have indicated in my instructions for fishing 

 with the worm. 



As in a deer forest, however extensive, every burn, 

 rock, glen, moss, and mountain has its distinct appel- 

 lation, so that you can describe with the greatest accu- 

 racy where a hart has been slain, or any signal event has 

 happened ; so in a salmon river, every stream and pool 

 in which these delectable fish lie is called by a name 

 that either distinguishes its character, or relates to some 

 event or circumstance which tradition has not always 

 preserved. Some casts are called after the names of 

 persons who were drowned in them : there is one such, 



