NORWEGIAN FISHING 157 



of good position in Norway, and foolishly paid 

 the rent in advance. On my arrival at the 

 river, I found that he was not in possession 

 of the fishing rights of a very important part 

 of the water, and had I not been able to come to 

 terms with the proprietor on my own account, 

 I should have been unable to fish there. This 

 was not a very difficult business ; and the 

 incident was rather typical of the Norwegian 

 peasant's character. On the first day of my 

 visit I commenced to fish the most likely piece 

 of water. I had hardly wetted my line before 

 an old man toddled down from a neighbouring 

 house, and told me to go away. I mentioned 

 the name of the townsman to whom I had paid 

 the rent, but the old fellow shook his head and 



signified that Herr had nothing to do with 



it. Happily at this moment his curiosity came 

 to my rescue, and he inquired the cost of my rod. 

 This matter settled, I offered him my tobacco- 

 pouch, and while he was helping himself I 

 made a cast. As luck would have it, I hooked 

 a grilse, and when this was killed and presented 

 to the old man we became fast friends. Within 

 a week he cut down some trees to facilitate my 

 casting, and I fished his water to our mutual 



