36 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



the steamer pointed out to us, among the cargo on board, 

 a barrel full of the most gigantic earth-worms I ever 

 beheld, being almost as long and thick as adders, for 

 the purpose of baiting night-lines. It was obviously 

 hopeless to attempt any angling in or near the lake 

 itself. The shores were somewhat densely populated 

 with villages, being moderately elevated, and partially 

 timbered with forests of pine. 



From the western end we followed the Ostra Dal 

 Eiver by carriole along the post road, from the point 

 where it flows into the lake, for two whole days 

 without finding any angling worth our stopping for, 

 putting up the first night at Elvdal and the next at 

 Sarna, the last posting stage being a long one of thirty- 

 six miles from a hamlet called Osen. 



Up to this point the Ostra Dal consists of a broad, 

 clear, shallow, rapid stream, containing pike, notwith- 

 standing several falls and rapids. At Sarna, in the 

 neighbourhood of some lakes formed by the river, the 

 best angling for trout and grayling was said to com- 

 mence. 



Next morning we embarked in a boat upon these 

 lakelike stretches of the river, accompanied by the 

 landlord of the keskievari or skyutstation, also armed 

 with a rod and well-chosen flies mounted on fine gut. 

 A native sportsman has a boat and small fishing lodge 

 some distance down the valley, but otherwise the 

 banks of the stream are quite without human habi- 

 tation. But just where the river leaves the lakes 

 aforesaid is naturally a great fishing place from Sarna, 



