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The Country-folk. 45 



midst of fish, flesli, and fowl, it would be indeed strange 

 were they not imbued with the love of sport and natural 

 history. 



Many of them are true sportsmen in that they possess 

 knowledge of the habits and haunts of beasts, birds, and 

 fish ; they know not fatigue, and their patience and 

 perseverance are well-nigh inexhaustible. 



I have found the inhabitants of the valleys along 

 the lengthy coast of Norway to differ considerably in 

 disposition and courtesy towards visitors. In some 

 districts they will do all in their power to oblige, and 

 are fair in their dealings, while in others they will 

 not put themselves out of their way to assist, and are 

 somewhat extortionate in their demands. 



In the tourist districts, and in the valleys where 

 rivers have been fished for many years, house-rent, 

 wages, and the prices of supplies are fixed ; indeed, 

 this is generally the case, but in more remote quarters 

 the country-folk are not above asking for a great 

 deal more than they are prepared to accept. 



One cannot expect country-folk to take a great 

 amount of interest in strangers whom, after a few 

 weeks' sojourn, they may never see again ; consequently, 

 the casual angler may not be as well treated as one 

 who annually fishes the same river ; but the natives of 

 some districts do not appear to grasp the idea that 



