106 ANGLING FOR GAME FISH. 



speak of a fish, you may be certain lie means a salmon, as trout 

 are not called "fisli" in Scotland. 



Salmon rarely take the fly in salt water ; but should many 

 fish be in an estuary, the experiment of casting a fly over 

 them should be tried.* 



Waders and Dress. — All-wool clothing, knickerbockers, 

 thick, knitted stockings, Norfolk or other easy-fitting jacket, 

 of a thickness suitable to the season, and stout, well-greased 

 boots, form the best attire. "Waders — which on many rivers are 

 absolutely necessary — require more consideration. The ordinary 

 thing is stockings or trousers of waterproof cloth. Over the 

 feet, outside the stockings, are drawn woollen socks, and over 

 these leather, or canvas and leather, shoes, called "brogues." 

 The whole arrangement is cumbrous, and inconvenient to put 

 on and off ; and I may say I greatly favour certain combination 

 waders made by Cording, of Piccadilly, in which the brogue and 

 stocking or trousers are all in one piece. They are on or off 

 in a moment. Their one fault is that the foot cannot be turned 

 inside out, to be dried either of perspiration or any water which 

 may have got in. "When not wading, the angler should take 

 every opportunity of turning his stockings down, to ventilate 

 them. However, on any but a hot day, it is unwise, having once 

 got into a profuse perspiration, to turn down wading trousers, 

 which usually come high up on the back and chest. The 

 danger of a chill is very great. There are wading-trousers, 

 made by Cording, with a life-belt attached — not a bad idea 

 for some rivers, where the bottom varies considerably and sud- 



*In July, 1888, Sir John H. Morris, K.C.S.I., and some friends, fishing near 

 Stornoway, in a bay about half a mile, or less, from the mouth of the Grimersta 

 river, took several salmon in absolutely salt water. In consequence of continued 

 dry weather, the salmon had been detained in the estuary for some time, and it was 

 about ten days before they showed any inclination to take the fly. While fly- 

 fishing for sea trout in the sea, the discovery was made that the salmon would take 

 the fly. They took only for a week, and sixty were killed on five rods. No salmon 

 have been caught in the place before or since. Sir John, who has very kindly given 

 me the most exact particulars, informs me that the depth of the water where the 

 fish were taken was 10ft. to 12ft. The weather on the first day was cloudy with a 

 good breeze ; but afterwards fish were taken on an ebbing tide with very little 

 wind. They rose best on rising tide with a good stiff breeze. The fly used on the 

 first day was the Wasp, on a No. 5 hook, worked deep in the water ; but larger 

 flies Were afterwards used with equal success. Dr. Hamilton tells me that, in the 

 Fleet, a piece of water on the coast of Sutherland, between Dornoch and Golsijie, 

 salmon are commonly fished for with the fiy during the first few hours of the rising 

 tide. There are many instances on record of salmon taking a bait in salt water. 



