232 THE LAG A. 



and splendid rapids in the intermediate space, a better 

 stream for the rod can hardly be found. 



On one occasion I tried my fortune in the Laga, but partly 

 owing to the season not being sufficiently advanced, and partly 

 to want of skill, I returned home empty-handed. I, however, 

 saw two noble salmon captured by the peasants, of whom 

 there must then have been about twenty occupied in fishing. 



So beautiful a line as some of these men threw, I had 

 never before witnessed in my life. It was asserted there 

 were individuals who could cast the fly one hundred feet ! 

 The distance was at all events very great, and nearly as far 

 again as a Crooked Lane-rod enabled me or my man who 

 was a very fair fisherman to cast mine. I must say I 

 never felt so small in my life, as when exhibiting in the 

 presence of these boors. 



The rod used by them which was of extraordinary length, 

 say from twenty to twenty-four feet, and consisted of an 

 aspen pole, topped with a sprig of juniper, or other pliant 

 wood beat mine hollow in another respect ; for being solid, 

 it served the purpose of a staff when wading, as was the 

 practice, owing to the river in places being broad. 



At the time of my visit to the Laga, that river was open 

 to every one, and vast numbers of salmon five to six 

 hundred according to report were killed there annually 

 with the rod alone. The proprietors of the several fisheries 

 situated on the stream, not admiring this wholesale de- 

 struction, protested against the use of the rod ; and by a 

 legal enactment it was for several years strictly forbidden 

 to every one, not excepting the owners of the water. But 

 this prohibition was rescinded last autumn, so that the rod is 

 again permitted as before. 



