150 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



method ; for if the boat be well managed, the 

 fly can be presented in the most tempting 

 manner to almost every salmon in the river. 

 But on the other hand, it reduces the inex- 

 perienced Tyro, and the accomplished Angler, 

 nearly to the same level . . . the hooking a 

 fish depends at least as much upon the boat- 

 men, as the fisherman. This is the great defect 

 of the Namsen, as an angling river." Fishing 

 thirty-one days, he caught 106 salmon and 

 grilse, which together weighed 1558 pounds. 



In 1839 Belton returned to Norway. He 

 crossed the Fille-fjeld to Laerdalsoren, and un- 

 successfully tried the Laerdal River. In the 

 light of the reputation that river has deservedly 

 acquired, it is delightful to read his verdict : 

 " I saw enough to convince me there never can 

 be good angling here, as the bed is too shallow, 

 and the stream too rapid, for salmon to remain 

 long in any of the lower pools." On his arrival 

 at the Namsen he was distressed to find that 

 he was not to have the river to himself, but 

 was obliged to share it with three other English 

 anglers. Also he was annoyed by native "in- 

 terlopers," many of the peasants having taken 

 to the sport. He had an erroneous idea that 



