n6 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



to try the strength of my hook before I use it, not 

 after ; and, fourthly, to get into shoes of a proper 

 consistency, and well studded with nails of Brob- 

 dinag dimensions. Take warning, gentle readers, 

 from these disasters, which are recounted for your 

 benefit and instruction. 



The day following I was more successful ; for I 

 shot twelve brace of partridges, and killed seven 

 salmon in the evening. This I thought good sport, 

 as partridges are scarce by the river side. 



I rented various houses and large fisheries on 

 Tweed side for about twenty years after this, re- 

 maining there not only during the summer months, 

 but sometimes all the year round except close time ; 

 so that my experience reaches to all the methods of 

 catching salmon during the legal time of the year. 

 I shall now proceed to give as good an idea as I can 

 of the sort of thing to be expected by those who are 

 inclined to follow the same amusement, together 

 with such instructions as I would fain hope may 

 increase their success. And, first, for wading. 



Wading in the water is not only an agreeable thing 

 in itself, but absolutely necessary in some rivers in 

 the North that are destitute of boats ; and that you 

 may do this in the best possible style, procure half 

 a dozen pair of shoes, with large knob-nails at some 

 distance asunder : if they are too close, they will 

 bring your foot to an even surface, and it will glide 

 off a stone or rock, which in deep water may be 

 inconvenient. Cut some holes in the upper-leathers 

 of your shoes, to give the water a free passage out 

 of them when you are on dry land ; not because the 



