A FIRST SPRINGER AND SOME OTHERS 81 



The miry ways of the past month had given way to a 

 frost, and we walked across to the station on frozen 

 puddles. Exhilaration was in the air. The glass 

 showed half an inch to the good since last night. Our 

 gillie, who met us at Stanley station, admitted this ; 

 yes, but 2 ft. less of water would warrant better con- 

 fidence. And that was sensible Scottish caution. We 

 got down to the river, and, though the colour was not 

 bad, she was too big and strong. 



The prospect of even a happening fish was of the 

 poorest. To be brief, the odd fish did not come my 

 way, and there's an end on't. Only two pools were 

 fishable. No boat could be worked in any other part. 

 If I say I fished every inch of the water, first with fly, 

 and then with a small dace spun from the Malloch reel, 

 I simply state facts. Over the pool did I patiently 

 fish with Nicholson and Dusty Miller of large size, and 

 a second time with the spinning bait. Two fish showed 

 during the day, a shockingly black beggar of not less 

 than 30 Ib. which jumped out of the water, and another 

 kelt which plunged out of range. It was an absolute 

 blank, and a fall of snow before I caught my train was 

 ominous. There had been a flood of 15 ft. (a favourite 

 figure apparently on that Tay gauge) and it takes any 

 river a long time to settle down, and the fish to resume 

 their ordinary habits, after such riotous excess. Still, 

 I had enjoyed a downright hard day's work, and had 

 deserved the success which was denied. The position, 

 therefore, was Friday, Saturday, and Monday lost 

 through the unfishable condition of the river, and just 

 a chance on Wednesday if there was no further rise of 

 water. 



Wednesday was sunny, and the water had fallen 

 about a foot during the night, so that Tay ought soon 

 to be in ply, for another frost occurred in the night, 



6 



