84 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



often be seen lying, but it is too even flowing 

 and smooth to fish for them except on a rough 

 day, or in very big water; and then as a rule 

 we have other fish to fry. This stream com- 

 mences at a small island, which breaks the 

 smoothness somewhat, and creates a small cast 

 on either side. 



For two miles above until the influence of 

 the next rapid, Alvaer Fos, becomes perceptible, 

 the river resembles rather a narrow lake. It 

 is broken by one or two gentle streams, but 

 they are not important from a fishing point 

 of view. In some seasons a good many fish 

 lie in this lake-like stretch. If we were able 

 to devote more time to it, it is probable that 

 we should be occasionally rewarded. Though 

 the volume of water is much greater, it some- 

 what resembles those West of Ireland streams 

 which are considered only fishable in a breeze. 

 Even when the surface is perfectly still, it is 

 strange how fish may sometimes be lured to 

 the fly. I once had a remarkable experience 

 of this. We were fishing a small river not far 

 from Stavanger. Day by day it had been 

 falling until it was reduced to a few still pools, 

 connected by a mere trickle. Some of these 



