DEPTH AT WHICH THE FISH WILL RISE. 261 



from its retreat, it is not easy to ascertain; and it would 

 require a good deal of particularising to take away from 

 the general nature of the question. This, however, is 

 well known, that fish lying in a depth of water exceeding 

 ten or twelve feet seldom, if ever, rise at the artificial 

 fly. It is true there are many gullies, both in Tweed 

 and other rivers, of nearly twice the depth above specified, 

 where salmon are known to rise freely, but such fish are 

 not at the bottom. They rest merely on the craggy 

 sides and ledges which wall in the water. In some 

 localities, they hold their out-look from a sunken forta- 

 lice of rock the fissures of which aiford them ample 

 and secure accommodation. 



That a fly-hook, say of the largest spring size, may 

 catch the observation of salmon at a still greater depth 

 than twelve feet is possible enough ; but it is quite true 

 that, if so, it loses all attractive effect, and a fish would 

 as soon think of leaping at the moon as bestir itself for 

 a mouthful so remote. So much as to sheer depth of 

 water, when considered as distance betwixt the salmon 

 and the fly ; but let me take the case of a fish lying in 

 a shallow break. How far off, in this instance, would 

 the hook operate as a lure ? For my own part, I think 

 it would require to pass within four or five feet of the 

 spot where the salmon holds watch, and I am led to think 

 so, in some measure, from experiments made, at the end 

 of July, 1845, at Coldstream bridge, where, during the 

 grilse season, in a fine water, there is every opportunity 

 for one stationed above to observe the natural powers 

 and instincts of the fish, both as regards the matter in 

 question and in respect to their likings and aversions 

 manifested towards the colours and sizes of artificial 

 flies. 



Salmon, be it noted, are a duller fish, by many degrees, 



