Where to Fish for Salmon, 33 



stances, being pretty sure of sport there when the 

 river has fallen a bit. Therefore, when she's big, 

 fish a short river in all parts. 



When fresh fish are running, what vagaries they 

 have ! I have seen them throw themselves so far 

 out of the water, as to fall on dry ledges of rocks ; 

 and when you hook a fresh-run fish, what fearful 

 leaps he will take! I had a curious adventure 

 which exemplifies this. I hooked a fresh-run 

 salmon in a deep pool seldom fished, because it was 

 supposed to be unprolific of sport ; he made a 

 rush right across the pool and threw a most tre- 

 mendous somersault, landing himself upon a 

 ledge of rock at least two feet higher than the 

 water on the opposite bank, and there he lay for a 

 few seconds without moving, no doubt as much 

 astonished at his position as I was. However, he 

 soon found that dry land was not his place and he 

 jumped himself back again, and as quick as light- 

 ning rushed across the pool to where I was standing, 

 one foot on one rock and one on another, with 

 a small and fast and deep stream of water running 

 between the rocks. Before I could wind him up, he 

 went right between my legs and down through the 

 gully. How I turned I know not, but he was away 

 over rocks and shallows, with his back fin out of the 

 water, to a pool about one hundred yards below. 

 Fortunately he was well hooked and the line cleared 



D 



