TROLLHATTAN. 225 



The hook, however, still retained its hold, and the salmon 

 subsequently made two more circuits of the same pool, but 

 never again approached the shore near enough to give us 

 a second chance. Finally, he took up his position under 

 the cascade itself, and within a few paces of where we 

 stood; but my patience being by this time somewhat 

 exhausted, and as night had closed in upon us, I directed 

 my attendant to cast heavy stones into the water, round 

 and about the spot where we supposed the fish to be lying. 

 This at length had the effect of startirig him off ; but 

 instead of descending the torrent as before, he dashed 

 directly across it, when the line snapped like a piece of 

 thread ; indeed a cable, in such a situation, could hardly 

 have held him. 



Had success crowned our efforts, trivial evils would not 

 have been regarded ; but what with loss of tackle, hands 

 bleeding in several places from the friction of the line, rod 

 so strained as to be irretrievably spoiled, it can readily be 

 imagined that my reflections on the way homewards were 

 anything but agreeable. 



When fishing at Trollhattan with a long day before me, it 

 was my custom, after crossing the river above the saw- 

 mills, to follow the several pools downwards, to the still 

 water below. Here 1 recrossed the river, and facing home- 

 wards, tried on the way all the likely pools. Thus I had 

 abundant occupation for a whole day; and by going over 

 so much fresh ground, was pretty sure to make up a basket 

 before night. 



Though there may not be much hazard in thus following, 

 in all their meanderings, the broken and jagged banks of the 

 river, yet it cannot be denied, that when a heavy fish is 



VOL. I. Q 



