BOTHNIAN RIVERS. 229 



flogging rivers, all dragging, which levels all, and skill avails 

 nothing." 



From actual experience, however, I myself cannot say 

 much as to the properties of the Scandinavian rivers, in 

 respect to salmon fishing. It is true that on first pitching 

 my tent in the peninsula, I wetted a line in several, as 

 well in Sweden and Norway, as in Lapland. But the season 

 not being sufficiently advanced, my sport was nil; and at 

 an after period, having fair fishing at home, it neither 

 suited my pocket nor my convenience to take extended 

 journeys. For the information of the disciples of Isaac 

 Walton, I will, however, jot down the little I know of 

 the northern rivers. And to make the subject the clearer, 

 I will take them in something like regular order, commencing 

 with those on the eastern coast. 



Here the rivers are exceedingly numerous, more especially 

 towards the north. One of the most striking features of this 

 part of the country indeed, is the number of streams that, 

 descending from the alpine barrier separating Norway from 

 Sweden, flow into the Gulf of Bothnia. In journeying 

 from Stockholm to Tornea, a distance of from six to seven 

 hundred miles, I counted; if I mistake not, considerably 

 upwards of one hundred ; many of them, such as the Dal, 

 the Umea, the Pitea, the Calix, the Ljusna, the Tornea, 

 &c., of great magnitude; and some, moreover, navigable 

 to a considerable distance into the interior. This deluge 

 of waters, considering that the country whence they take 

 their rise is of no great extent, always greatly puzzled 

 me. 



But though the rivers in question are thus numerous, and 

 in most instances abound with salmon, a notion prevails, 



