186 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



down on the east bank, taking Keay, the head 

 keeper, to gaff for me. 



This smooth water below Caputh Bridge had never 

 been fished before, as it was very rarely in " ply," 

 but on this particular day it seemed to be full of 

 fish, which were leaping in every direction. More- 

 over, the water was just in that perfect condition 

 for salmon-fishing which is, unfortunately, not too 

 common — namely, slightly clear and falling after 

 a big spate. It was one of those days when you 

 had simply to make a cast and up they came. I 

 had hardly commenced when I was " in " to a good 

 fish, and had the satisfaction of seeing my friend 

 similarly engaged and evidently somewhat confused 

 with the multitudinous advice being thrust upon 

 him by the more experienced boatmen. At one 

 o'clock we met for lunch, and I had killed three 

 good fish, whilst Captain Stockwell also had three 

 and had lost four others. He was, however, very 

 happy, and said he had never had such a day in 

 his life. After a hurried meal I thought it better 

 to allow Captain Stockwell to work the same water 

 again, as Burn Bend was only a short stream and 

 in big water difficult to manage a boat. So Keay 

 and I crossed the river and went to the top of the 

 new water. 



To understand subsequent events I must say a 

 few words of Bum Bend and its natural features. 

 The upper part of the stream is rapid, and this 

 gradually falls away into a smooth, boiling " flat," 

 which extends to the Meiklow boundary about 

 half a mile below. On the east side is the large 

 stony beach of Delvine and on the west is a high 

 bank, all open and easy to cast from for about 



