264 SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 



up of the Scotch Highlands by the royal steam 

 route, branch extensions have rendered districts, once 

 remote, comparatively easy of access, and a part of 

 the brief vacation of the most eminent statesmen 

 and professional men and others, forming the brain 

 power and intellect of the nation, is spent annually 

 in the northern wilds, the royal emporium for the 

 sportsman. Here in the 



" Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, 

 Land of the mountain and the flood," 



the roving disciple of the rod wanders up to the 

 head of the river, into the heart of the mountains, 

 sometimes cheered by the pleasant converse of a few 

 true men and honest anglers like himself, often alone 

 with nature in her fairest or wildest loveliness. Soli- 

 tary or social, his appreciation of all the sweet charms 

 of wild nature is ever keen and lively. Ubiquitous 

 even as the " Murray "-bearing British Tourist is now 

 the rod-carrying British angler. For his enthusiasm 

 Scotland's most extortionate hotels have no terrors, 

 nor do Norway's ruggedest solitudes and coarsest fare 

 deter him from seeking the lordly salmon by many a 

 " fjord" and " foss." 



Before passing on to the practical part of the art, it 

 will be necessary to enumerate the chief articles re- 

 quisite to a tolerable equipment. 



The ROD first claims our attention. The remarks 

 anent the choice of a rod for fly-fishing as also winch 

 and line for small stream fishing apply equally to 

 salmon fishing. The lake and large river implement 

 is of necessity of greater dimensions. The Castle 



