AND HOW 1 HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 89 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE GLEN RIVER AND ITS POOLS SALMON'S FOOD. 



THE hour has struck, and we fishermen are all 

 punctual to the breakfast that is to precede the 

 drawing for beats. The absence of rain during the 

 night and the previous day has given the river the 

 time necessary to trim itself into perfect order. 



There were six of us interested ; consequently 

 the river was divided into that number of shares, 

 each consisting of, or containing, four to six pools. 

 It was noticeable that some were expressing a pre- 

 ference for the lower beats, while others would wish 

 to have the middle portions. I was hoping to get 

 my order for the upper pools, to which, as I knew 

 from long experience, the first shoals of salmon 

 invariably hasten. There may be doubters of this 

 theory indeed, I know there are to any theory 

 concerning this fish. I think myself justified in my 

 opinion inasmuch as I have found this to be the 

 case on all the rivers I have fished, and it is par- 

 ticularly noticeable that in the Tay first successes 

 are not in the lower reaches, not in the main river 

 at all, in fact, but as far up in one of its branches as 

 Glen Lyon, where, as early as January 15, I have 



