CASTING FROM ROCKS AND BOATS 185 



should be shingle or stones presenting a fairly even 

 bottom, sloping gradually from the edge, and enabling 

 the fisherman to operate comfortably with the water 

 at his hips. Should he have to venture deeper, the 

 necessity of keeping the winch above water requires a 

 special strain upon the muscles, and this in time be- 

 comes fatiguing. There is always, however, compensa- 

 tion in hooking a salmon in this position, in which you 

 have to hold your rod well up what time you retire 

 slowly to the terra firma that is above water, carrying 

 on the action as you go. 



A long pool of sufficient briskness to keep the fly 

 in lively and regular motion, a pool with varying 

 depths and a sharp shallow at the tail, a pool that will, 

 let us say, take not less than half an hour to fish down 

 carefully, is what we should all perhaps choose if we 

 could do so ; but even where the bottom is rough, and 

 the angler, if he would escape peril, must move with 

 wary steps, where the stream is so out of reach that it 

 can only be properly worked in parts, and then with 

 difficulty even this is better than fishing from a boat. 

 I know of nothing more delightful than wading such a 

 pool at just the depth and force of water which allows 

 you to sit on it. Those who have not indulged in this 

 sensation may laugh at the idea of sitting on running 

 water, but it is quite possible, and many a time have 

 I enjoyed this utilisation of a current strong enough 

 to support you as a seat. 



The principal fishing must after all be from a boat. 

 It must not be supposed that the frail craft in Norway 

 are to be compared with those models of boats for 

 casting which you have on Tweed or Tay. The Nor- 

 wegian boats have to be used upon water that is often 

 both shallow and swift, and must be dragged from 

 place to place. It is not comfortable to cast from such 



