354 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



Labourers were obtained, and every one setting to work 

 with a will, the upper channel was deepened and the outlet 

 from the lowest lake was checked by a substantial earth- 

 work dam, which after bringing the water in it to about 

 one foot above its former level was suddenly destroyed, 

 and an artificial spate created, which went tumbling down 

 the short lower length of the river and into the salt water 

 in which the salmon had been so long waiting. The result 

 was an immediate run of salmon to the lake above, where 

 they remained for some weeks. 



It was permissible to fish only one rod per day on the 

 first beat, which included the first loch in which the fish had 

 collected. The total take for the six days at the end of 

 August following this artificial spate was 338 salmon 

 and 71 sea trout, the average weight of the fish being 6 

 pounds. 



On the 23rd of August Mr. Naylor killed thirty-one 

 salmon, on the 27th the rod which fished the loch got 

 thirty-six salmon. On the 28th Mr. Naylor had the record 

 catch, taking fifty-four salmon in nine hours, and 

 Mr. Hansard caught forty -six fish the succeeding day ; 

 the next day again, the soth, Mr. Naylor killed forty- 

 five salmon, all these wonderful records being made with 

 the fly. 



No record was made of the salmon lost or which came 

 " at " the fly during these busy days, and but little wonder 

 can be felt at this, for when a man has an average kill of one 

 salmon to every ten minutes throughout nine hours' fishing, 

 he has little time for other matters. The record is in itself 

 a wonderful instance of endurance. 



A 5o-PouND SALMON 



It might, perhaps, illustrate the uncertainty of salmon 

 fishing and the reward which will at times repay a patient 



