160 AUTUMNS IN ARGYLESHIRE 



The totals and weights as recorded in my rough 

 diary ran as follows : 



Lbs. 



13th, four salmon . 7, 6, 9|, 6. Six trout. 

 16th, two . 9|, 8. 



17th, ten . 17|, 11, 9$, 7J, 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, 4. 



18th, seven . 8, 10, 5, 6, 6, 5, 8. 



20th, twelve . 6, 7J, 7|, 5, 7|, 7, 9, 6J, 7, 6, 6, 7. 



Total, thirty-five. 



All these fish were caught with a 10^-feet single- 

 handed trout rod and small sea-trout flies of not 

 more than three varieties. 



One of my sons suggested to me that I should 

 do well not to publish those experiences if I 

 wished to maintain my character for honesty and 

 truthfulness. Reverence is not the distinguishing 

 characteristic of the rising generation ; but as I 

 can call witnesses both to character and to the 

 facts, I am content to run the risk ; especially as 

 I think my experiences may be of use to others. 

 My success was, no doubt, largely due to circum- 

 stances wholly exceptional and no one could 

 have anticipated or need expect to repeat it in 

 the same place under normal conditions. The 

 largest number of fish I ever caught in any one 

 year in the same river was forty-nine, the largest 

 number in a day seven, and those results were 

 obtained during three months' fishing with the 

 river frequently in perfect order ; so to catch 

 thirty-five in a week, in a very small length of 

 water, after a long drought, must be considered 



