242 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



anglers fishing from Fisher's Hotel, Pitlochry, 

 determined that it was no use going out. I had a 

 conversation with Mr. Fisher which resulted in my 

 going to the Dunkeld beat, where, when I met the 

 two boatmen, I was told that it would be useless 

 to try to fish as there was really no stream. 



A second's thought prompted me to say, " Ah, 

 but you have not seen my new bait ; it requires no 

 stream ; see here ! " And, with that, I produced 

 and spun with finger and thumb my Combination 

 Spoon and Phantom, which, I knew, they could 

 never have previously seen. 



I showed them a flask, too, and told them of a 

 wager I had made with Mr. Fisher that we three 

 men could catch a salmon if any three could. 

 These men practised only the one Tay method of 

 harling, which consists of rowing the boat from side 

 to side while she falls gently back to near the lie 

 of the fish, while the baits are some thirty yards 

 ahead, tossed and spun by the flowing water and 

 the two long vibrating rods. I had only my little 

 1 6 oz. rod, with its ivory rings, of the use of which 

 wee thing they had no knowledge and less faith. I 

 saw that it was necessary to give confidence, so I 

 boldly told them that, if they would kindly back the 

 boat to within about thirty yards of a likely spot, I 

 would show them a fish and what the wee rod could 

 do with it. 



It was soon evident that the men had given me 

 the chance asked for, as I was into a fish that 



