132 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



good brown-trout fishing in a river. Yet your 

 sea trout is an attractive fish ; a bold riser when 

 in the mood ; a dashing fighter when hooked ; 

 often indeed in his reckless leaps and rushes 

 seeming to be more in the air than in the water ; 

 and when fresh-run a splendid vision of silvery 

 sleekness. When a run is on, fish for him an 

 hour after sunset with a light rod and fine tackle, 

 and you will not regret having for once deserted 

 his nobler kinsman. 



Otters are said to abound in the valley, but 

 I have never seen one. It is possible that they 

 do some good in thinning out the trout, but 

 they must also do a great deal of mischief 

 among the salmon in the spawning season. 



" Would you preserve a numerous finny race ? 

 Let your fierce dogs the ravenous otter chase ; 

 The amphibious monster ranges all the shores, 

 Darts through the waves and every haunt explores ; 

 Or let the gin his roving steps betray 

 And save from hostile jaws the scaly prey." l 



In the absence of a pack of otter hounds, it 

 has been suggested to me to offer a reward for 

 each otter captured. But such measures often 

 have an unexpected result. Years ago the 



1 John Gay, Rural Sports, Canto 1. 



