MORE SALMON 47 



the fisherman's path is strewn with unsolved 

 mysteries. So bad did our prospects appear 

 that I went so far as to telegraph to H., who 

 was coming out from England with my wife, 

 that unless he was content with grilse-fishing, 

 he had better not come. Of course he came, 

 but I had relieved my conscience of some of 

 that responsibility which a host feels for a 

 guest's sport, and as usual, the unexpected 

 happened. 



It is said by gamblers that to go on a journey 

 brings luck, and perhaps the fact that I took 

 a holiday of three days, and went to Bergen 

 to meet the travellers, wrought a change of 

 fortune. 



It began on the night of our arrival. It was 

 late, and dark, and the fishermen had gone to 

 bed ; but it occurred to us that a cast or two 

 from the Lower Bank might be worth the 

 trouble. So we put on our waders and went 

 forth, and commenced to fish close together. 

 At once I hooked a fish of 15 Ib. or so, which 

 after a good fight I beached it was too dark 

 for gaffing. Scarcely was he on the bank, 

 when H.'s reel sang to a bigger fish. Down he 

 went full speed to the fjord, and H. after him, 



