240 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



except in the Tweed : in the Tay and the Annan 

 they know nothing of the matter. Now the pole is 

 not used as in punting ; but the man who manages 

 the boat, instead of shifting his place, stands up or 

 sits down at the stern ; he keeps his eye upon her 

 head, and forces her straight up the rapids, pressing 

 the pole in the direction in which he would steer with 

 a rudder. This is in a great measure effected with a 

 twist of the body. If he does not keep her straight 

 in her course, the current takes her at the side, whips 

 her round in an instant, and down she goes, the 

 deuce knows where, head foremost ; nor can you 

 resume your position till you again bring her head 

 up the stream. 



In forcing your boat up very strong water, at 

 every fresh thrust you must catch up the pole and 

 put it in again very quickly ; for when you are not 

 pushing the boat will recede if the rapids are heavy, 

 and thus you may lose way. This, I think, can be 

 done better by sitting than standing, as you are 

 nearer your work. In this manner you may thrust 

 your little craft where no oars could take hold of the 

 water. 



To perform this requires vast practice, and accord- 

 ingly it was a considerable time before I mastered 

 it completely, although I had been accustomed to 

 punting on the Isis in my younger days. The rapids 

 had it all their own way for months, or more. As 

 you use the canting pole, which is shod with a heavy 

 iron spike, so you must use the leister ; only with 

 more caution, lest you should injure the prongs. 



As a proof of the difficulty of this operation, I will 



