THE UPPER RIVER 79 



under. If a fish is hooked above it, and goes 

 down, it is usual for the gillie to stand below 

 and to cut the line, holding the end to which 

 the fish is attached until the angler has passed 

 over the obstacle. The ends are then tied 

 together, and the sport proceeds. A lady who 

 had seen fish killed in this way and no other, 

 went with her husband to Norway. She was 

 on the bank when he hooked a fish, and 

 after waiting a few minutes in expectation, 

 called out to him, "Aren't you going to cut 

 the line?" 



In this strange season of 1903 sport in the 

 upper water has been a complete failure. A 

 salmon or two in Os Pool and Aamot's and 

 a few grilse in Second Fos, and that is all. 

 The fish were several weeks later than usual 

 in ascending the ladder; and when they had 

 ascended they would not look at the fly. 

 Certainly at that time the river was rising 

 slowly day by day, and fish seldom take well 

 when that is happening; but considering what 

 a great run there was when at last it came, it 

 is strange that we did not have a little sport. 

 In the big water year of 1899, when fish were 

 also very late in running up, we had excellent 



