Sx\LMON FISHING. I49 



Fly-Fishing. 



Although, in common with many Trout-fishers who are 

 also Salmon-fishers, I prefer good Trout-fishing to any 

 other sport with the rod, it must be admitted that there 

 are points in which Salmon-fishing carries off the palm 

 — and carries it off too not only from Trout-fishing, but 

 from every other sport which these islands afford. 

 Perhaps I could not with truth say that I prefer fishing 

 to shooting, or shooting to hunting ; they are a glorious 

 trio, to each of whom in turn I have sworn alle- 

 giance ; and if like Paris I had a golden apple 

 to bestow, it should be given to Fishing only because she 

 has been in a special sense my mistress — " the fairest 

 and most loving wife" — in many a wild and lonely spot 

 where but for her gentle companionship and solace, I 

 should have felt myself in every sense of the word alone. 

 But though it would perhaps be impossible, honestly, and 

 " unbiassed by self-profit," to award the palm of supe- 

 riority to either of our three national sports as a whole, 

 I unhesitatingly assert that there is no single moment 

 with horse or gun into which is concentrated such a 

 thrill of hope, fear, expectation, and exultation as that 

 of the rise and successful striking of a heavy Salmon. 

 / have seen men literally unable to stand, or to hold their 

 rod, from sheer excitement. 



And indeed in this very excitement — in the impe- 

 tuosity of spirit it engenders — lies almost the only real 



