254 Salmon- Fishing. 



our love of sport to his love of life, still less to 

 decry his pre-eminent claims on the angler's regard, 

 that I have placed the princely salmon after the 

 common trout and commoner grayling, but simply 

 because salmon-fishing with the rod is a luxury 

 enjoyed only by the few. It may be true, as Mr 

 Francis says, " there are fifty salmon-fishers now 

 for one of twenty years ago." But has not the 

 number of trout-fishers increased in a very much 

 larger proportion ? At all events, it is undoubted 

 that, while the love of regal sport and vigorous 

 joys may have grown with the means for its in- 

 dulgence, out of the whole fraternity of anglers 

 the number of those who wield the salmon-rod 

 is still exceedingly and lamentably small. For it 

 is not given to all to become fishers of salmon, 

 even should they possess the rod and the reel, 

 the capacity and the desire ; the vast majority 

 are obliged, by the stern force of circumstances, 

 to " repress that noble rage," and remain outside 

 the charmed circle of privilege. But to the angler 

 fortunate enough to have enjoyed it, the sport seems 

 worthy of all that can be said in its praise, whether 

 regard be had to the skill which it demands, or to 

 the emotions which it excites. From the moment 

 when the first proud dash of a salmon in the ex- 

 uberance of its strength electrifies the nerves and 

 sends the blood madly dancing through the veins, 



