Salmon -Fishing. 43 1 



parts of capelin in their stomachs. As their digestion is known to be 

 very rapid, this indicates a high rate of speed against a swift current 

 up fierce rapids and over falls. A bit of dried leaf seems to amuse 

 them as much as an artificial fly. Dropping a 

 leaf quietly off a tree into a pool, we could see 

 a salmon rise and take it, and after getting to 

 the bottom open his mouth and let it float up 

 to the surface again, when other fish would take 

 it, one after the other, apparently enjoying the 

 sport like kittens at play. So distinctly could 

 we see the salmon that we easily traced the 

 scars of the nets, which are found on large 

 numbers. Many we take have an eye entirely 

 blinded from the wound made by the twine. At 

 one time, just under the upper falls, I was for some fifteen minutes 

 so near a salmon that I could have touched him with the end of my 

 rod. The water was shallow and clear, and gave a good opportunity 

 of closely watching the king of fishes as he majestically sailed 

 around, probably wondering whether he would succeed in his leap 

 over the falls. Dozens of his fellows were coming up at intervals to 

 look at the falls, but not one could be tempted to take the slightest 

 notice of any fly in our books, although we were out of their sight 

 and threw our flies within a few inches of their noses. 



We had with us rods, reels, gaffs, and, unfortunately, a new and 

 untested package of leaders. The run of the first fish hooked parted 

 a leader. A second leader shared the same fate ; and a third was 

 taken by a salmon who determined to leave the pool and go down 

 the rapids below. Testing our leaders with the spring balance, we 

 broke them at a pound or pound and a half strain, although they had 

 previously received a thorough soaking. We were in a bad predica- 

 ment ; salmon everywhere ; pools full of them, and seeming eager 

 to rise, and no suitable leaders with which to take them. We made 

 the best of it, and with what patience we could, awaited the canoe 

 with our large fly-books containing new gut. From this we after- 

 ward tied leaders which stood a strain of five pounds, and were soon 

 engaged in trying to overcome a strong, lively fish. 



Presently our head man sung out, " You must lose your fish or get 

 a drenching." A small dark cloud came over the near mountain, trav- 



