48 Angling Travels in Norway. 



than a smile flits across my boatman's countenance, and he 

 continues rowing as if nothing had occurred. 



When, however, a fish is being played I cannot say he 

 is so steady, and in gaffing a fish he is about the worst 

 hand I have ever met. 



It seems quite impossible for him to wait until the gaft" 

 can be nicely placed over the shoulder of the fish, he prefers 

 to make wild dashes with the instrument, and frequently 

 succeeds in frightening the fish away, or in gaffing your 

 line. 



The rents they make with the gafl" deprive me of half 

 the pleasure of the capture, and although I have shown 

 them the correct method times without number, they will 

 be just as clumsy upon the next opportunity, so now I 

 strand my fish whenever possible, and use a net in place 

 of the gaff". , . 



This, however, some do not appreciate, as they think 

 they are deprived of having a hand in the sport. The 

 Norwegian is of kindly disposition, and his care of animals 

 is extreme; in fact, he makes pets of his servants. His 

 knowledge he willingly places at the disposal of his com- 

 panion in sport, and he will work away with a dogged 

 determination which leaves nothing to be desired. This is 

 the kind of man with whom to go a-fishing. The Nor- 

 wegian is an adept at all kinds of wood-work, from the 

 building of his house to the manufacture of ropes from 



