3* 



A CURIOUS OCCURRENCE. 219 



having started from his stream, was caught in it that 

 night. 



John Crerar mentioned to me another instance where 

 a salmon, having broken a fisherman's line, went down 

 the Tay for a mile, and then up the Tummel three 

 miles, and was there caught the day following by the 

 same fisherman, who thus regained his fly with two or 

 three fathoms of line attached to it. 



On the other hand, I know of three well-attested 

 instances of salmon having been caught almost im- 

 mediately after they had broken the fisherman's line ; 

 but I conclude these fish were touched at first in a part 

 that was scarcely sensitive. A very curious circum- 

 stance of this sort occurred in Isle Isla, where a gen- 

 tleman was broken by a salmon, which he caught im- 

 mediately afterwards ; upon landing it, he found, to his 

 amazement, that he had not touched the fish itself the 

 second time, but that his hook was linked in the one left 

 in his mouth previously. This was a very delicate affair ; 

 for had not the pull upon the fish been moderate and 

 even, he must inevitably have escaped. As for my own 

 practice, I never recollect having risen a fish a second 

 time that had touched my hook previously. 



What I have said regarding the number of fish lost 

 or set down in trolling is so universally acknowledged, 

 that this style of angling is seldom practised, except, 

 indeed, in fishing for kelts in very full waters, when no 

 one can throw completely over the casts without the use 

 of a boat. In this state of the river the flies are drawn 

 down the stream; but when the water subsides, they 

 are trailed up it. It is practised also a day or two 



