MY FIRST SALMON 227 



the dry season, when the salmon remain for some 

 time near the coast while waiting for high water. 

 As a rule, little netting is done after July 1st, but 

 this year when I left the island (July 15th) the nets 

 were still doing their deadly work. 



At the end of six days of industrious fishing, 

 during which we got no rise nor saw any sign of 

 salmon, we determined to move our camp further 

 up stream to a point where we could fish ten pools 

 within a distance of three or four miles. 



Never shall I forget the first day we fished the 

 upper waters. We had drawn lots for the pool, 

 and my friend won. The day was bright though 

 chilly, and for a wonder there were no flies ; so 

 sitting in comfort on a convenient boulder with 

 camera ready, but with only faint hope in my heart, 

 I watched my companion. For my object in 

 coming was not only to fish but to secure photo- 

 graphs of the jumping salmon. Thus was my sport 

 and interest doubled, so also I may add were my 

 difficulties, for the successful photographing of the 

 fish is by no means as easy as it sounds. 



A silver doctor was the fly used, and carefully 

 was it dropped near the edge of the ripples. The 

 third cast rose a fish ; imagine our excitement. 

 And at the end of eight days we had found a pool 

 that contained what we had travelled over a 

 thousand miles to find. Acting according to in- 

 structions given to us by a master of the art, my 

 friend let a few minutes lapse before casting again 

 what long minutes those were ! After that several 

 casts were made, but without result, and we were 

 both becoming frightened lest the fish was gone, 



Q2 



