How to Fish for Salmon. 29 



and ling we landed gave capital sport (the High- 

 landers will not eat skate, they have a violent 

 prejudice against this fish), and when we got two 

 or three big dog-fish on board there was a deal of 

 excitement. However, this fine hot weather could 

 not last ; a severe thunderstorm came on, the wind 

 changed, and on awaking one morning at the end 

 of the second week, I saw, from my window, Ben 

 Nevis covered with snow. At the same time a 

 pressing message arrived from Aitken, begging 

 me to come up to the Spean as soon as possible, as 

 the river was in grand ply. I was not long in 

 getting breakfast, and the six miles were soon got 

 over. The river was getting into fine order, a leetle 

 thick, but the fresh cold water will give us sport. 

 For the first two hours fish rose very short, but 

 towards midday I got a good fish of 10 lbs., and 

 then shortly another of 14^ lbs., then a grilse of 

 6 lbs., and another good salmon of 14 lbs. after 

 luncheon ; about four they left off taking, and I 

 did not get another rise. 



" The second day the river was in capital order. 

 I began fishing about ten. My first fish was a 

 salmon of <^\ lbs. A successful long cast over 

 a rising fish at the further end of Mac-Kintyre's Pool, 

 just where the water breaks, brought up a good 

 fish, and the fun began and lasted for twenty-five 

 minutes, a beautiful fish of 19 lbs. ; then one 



