AND ANGLING SONGS. 245 



Scottish waters. It is certainly unlike any river I am acquainted 

 with. In the lower part of its course, from the bridge of Kelton 

 downwards, its celebrity as a salmon-stream has been long esta- 

 blished, but of its capabilities higher up no proper test has been 

 made. The range, both on the Dee proper, and in connexion 

 with the banks of the Ken (the larger and more direct body of 

 water), is very extensive, and includes what may be called a 

 series of lakes. In these expanses pike and perch are known 

 to abound ; but they form also, it has been ascertained, holds or 

 resting-places, at particular points, for salmon, which, under 

 certain conditions of wind and water, take the fly freely. By 

 means of a careful investigation, these resorts, it struck me, 

 might readily enough be determined, and the field of sport with 

 the rod greatly enlarged in consequence. The Dee, in its middle 

 levels and lower course, is, comparatively speaking, poorly stocked 

 with river-trout. Individuals, however, of large dimensions, are 

 occasionally taken from it. During my visit to it in 1862, I was 

 favoured with two or three days' salmon-fishing in the neighbour- 

 hood of Tongland, and higher up, and was successful in capturing 

 seven fish, the largest a salmon of about twelve pounds, the 

 others grilses varying from five to seven pounds, all of them 

 freshly-run and in the best condition. The flies insisted on by 

 the local anglers were all of the reddish -brown or dun-wing 

 pattern, a few fibres of the speckled drake-feather being occa- 

 sionally introduced below the wing, for the purpose of enlivening 

 it, and a dark body, shouldered, in some instances, with jay or 

 guinea-fowl, tinselled with silver, and tipped with orange or 

 bright yellow, held in regard. I found some of our Tweed 

 patterns, however, fully as persuasive, the Sutton-fly, for in- 

 stance, and the double white-top. My brother, who resides at 

 Carlinwark, in Kirkcudbrightshire, and has fished the Dee re- 

 gularly for a number of years, puts equal faith with the Tweed- 

 siders in the old-fashioned but well-tried lure last mentioned. 



