160 LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



It might, however, be remarked that the fascination 

 of Norway to the angler somewhat changed as time 

 proceeded into the nineteenth century. Early in the 

 century it was known to the few as the paradise 

 of the salmon fisherman. It remained without any 

 great change for something like a generation, and, 

 like Scotland and Ireland in a lesser degree, was not 

 overrun. In those days only the rich could afford the 

 time and money which travel and sport without rail- 

 ways demanded. The railways came, and with them 

 a wonderful transformation of the world's habit and 

 custom. The growth of the Press in journalism and 

 literature ranged abreast of improved facilities for 

 going afar, and the choice preserves of the angler were, 

 all in the order of things, invaded. 



Part of the fascination of Norway to the angler fifty 

 years ago was the cheapness of it. The man who talked 

 to his friends of " my river in Norway " paid but a 

 few pounds a year for it ; as the native farmer had not 

 yet been exploited, he retained the simple notions of 

 his class, and was mostly amused that the Englishman 

 should take such trouble about the salmon, which were 

 of such small account to him. It is common knowledge 

 that this desirable state of things is past history, and 

 there is no need to waste words, or pipe laments, or 

 (to descend to homely metaphor) cry over spilt milk. 



The change came home to me on deck one night in 

 the North Sea with striking insistence. We were re- 

 turning from fishing in Norway, and no one, after a 

 particularly bad season of " no water," seemed inclined 

 to be enthusiastic about the fascination of Norway ; 

 one sorrowful gentleman, however, told me in hushed 

 tones that his seven weeks on a hired river had cost 

 him 300, and for that and all his skill and toil he had 

 been rewarded with two salmon, three grilse, and one 



