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CHAPTER XV. 



SALMON-FISHING WITH THE PARR-TAIL, MINNOW, 

 AND WORM. 



IN Chapter vn., I have described, at some length, the 

 parr-tail tackle, the way in which the bait or lure ought 

 to be cut, how attached to the hooks, &c. &c. My 

 observations upon these matters, although made in 

 reference to trout-fishing, comprise, when applied to 

 salmon, nearly all that can be said upon the subject. 

 Almost the only additional instructions I can give the 

 angler refer to the weighting of the tackle. In this 

 respect, he requires to be liberal of his leads or plum- 

 mets, and in spinning the lure careful that he keeps it 

 well sunk ; in fact, close to the bottom of the pool or 

 stream. Salmon, when at all inclined to take the parr- 

 tail, will do so in water comparatively still, as well as 

 at the head of streams and rapid places. They seldom 

 pay any regard to it when the river is discoloured or 

 beyond its ordinary spring size, although bull-trouts, 

 especially kelted fish of this description, will seize it 

 greedily. It is esteemed by some surest as a bait at 

 the latter end of May, but a clean fish will take it as it 

 does the minnow, throughout the spring months. 



In very cold weather, during March, and when the 

 water is most uninviting to the eye, having that greenish 

 tinge which indicates the presence of snow at its 

 sources, I have known the parr-tail, in common with 

 the minnow, to be a killing bait. Nay, amid thick 



