90 THE SALMON 



and plucky, but not very large, rose almost anywhere. 

 The salmon had favourite haunts and lurking places 

 where submerged rocks rose nearly to the surface in 

 the deeper water. There was of course some com- 

 petition to secure the first turn at the favourite places, 

 and all were eager to come in in the evening with the 

 best baskets landed. Many a bright sea-trout and 

 shapely peel of four or five pounds, and occasionally a 

 brown salmon of from ten to fourteen pounds, roused 

 the envy of less successful competitors. Luncheon 

 on one of the islands with a freshly caught fish 

 broiled in the embers as a piece de resistance was a 

 delightful meal. Our boatmen were full of stories : 

 there was of course a ' worm ' in the lake, perhaps 

 twin-brother to the mysterious monster whose 

 attempted capture was described in the ' Badminton 

 Magazine' for July, 1897. ! Then there was also 

 a horseman, who, at certain periods, rode over the 

 surface of the lake on a charger shod with silver 



1 This creature answers the description of what Newland 

 (Forest Scenes in Norn-ay and Sweden. Routledge, 1855) calls 

 ' the fictitious mal, a great-headed wide-mouthed monster with 

 long beard, of the same colour as an eel, slimy and without 

 perceptible scales. It is said to grow to the length of 12 or 14 

 feet, and to carry on its back fin a strong sharp lance which it 

 can elevate or depress at pleasure. It is supposed to lie, seek- 

 ing whom or what it may devour, in the deepest and muddiest 

 holes of rivers and lakes. ' 



