CASUAL VISITS TO NORWAY 171 



latter. The sun is bright upon the pools, and we take 

 a stroll by the stream that I may comprehend its 

 points as an example of a Norwegian river of the smaller 

 size. It differs from other types, hereafter to be de- 

 scribed, but, like all of them, its headwaters are a lake, 

 and it is fed by a glacier. The salmon, however, are 

 prevented from reaching the lake by a foss, or water- 

 fall, about a mile and a half from the mouth : the 

 fishing is therefore limited to a few pools. It is, how- 

 ever, a real " sporting " river by reason of the turbu- 

 lence of many of the runs for which the fish generally 

 make a direct dash, and have to be followed and con- 

 tended with in roaring rapids, what time the angler 

 makes the best running he may amid stones, brooks, 

 and with many a bush between him and the river. 



It is the particular desire of the gentlemen who are 

 looking on that I should hook a salmon that will at 

 once corroborate this theory by a vigorous object 

 lesson ; equally sincere am I in my supplication that 

 I am not thus forced to make play for the Philistines. 

 The chances are as hopeless as they can be. But a slight 

 cloud overcasts the sun by and by, and I verily find 

 myself well fastened in a salmon, with that terrible 

 threat of rushing foam at the tail of the pool ; I make 

 up my mind to do the best, and mentally mark the 

 point, near a footbridge across a runnel, where I must 

 probably come to grief. The salmon, however, is no 

 more inclined to give amusement to the spectators than 

 I am. He cruises about in a sullen humour, and acts 

 as if he is rather anxious than otherwise to come to 

 the gaff. There is no difficulty, in short, in applying 

 the familiar time principle of a pound a minute, and 

 without a serious attempt to try escape per rapids, he 

 conies to land, a fish of 16 lb., that has been some time 

 in the fresh water. 



