to ask me to go back with him and try for a five or six 

 pounder that was rising under some alder bushes on the 

 opposite side, and near which he could not get a fly, 

 having lost several in the attempt. It was, indeed, 

 a fine long fish to look at. There was but a small 

 space where I could present a fly to him, and he came out 

 and took it. I mounted my rod, and the fish rushed up 

 stream, salmon like, drawing my rod-top into the water. 

 As my line was got fast round the handle of my reel ( I 

 have my reels made on a different principle now) the 

 consequence was he broke me, taking the most of my 

 casting line. My friend was very excited, and said I 

 should never hook so fine a trout in the Colne again. 

 The next day I was fishing two meadows below, and 

 noticed a fine trout now and then taking a fly very 

 cautiously. I tried him with several tempting flies, and 

 at last he took one, and a good battle resulted. On 

 landing him, to my surprise I found the fly and piece of 

 cast that I had. lost the day before, and which I had 

 dressed at the -Sufi^ before starting, still in his mouth. 

 My friend could scarcely believe his own eyes. The fish 

 weighed only three and a quarter pounds, being very long 

 but in poor condition. According to its size, it ought to 

 have weighed seven or eight pounds. 



Another favourite river of mine is the Usk, Mon- 

 mouthshire, which I have fished from its source for nearly 

 forty years, for both salmon and trout. It rises on the 

 northern side of Carmarthenshire, some miles above 

 Treecastle, and receives numerous small streams before 

 it reaches the county town. The river abounds with 



