FISHING EESUMED. 79 



the beds was quickly discussed, and we then sallied 

 forth. This time we both commenced fishing at the 

 falls, within a few yards of each other, but on opposite 

 sides of the river, and working down-stream. The 

 fish were as thick as possible, and quite jostled each 

 other as they rushed in crowds at the fly ; and scarcely 

 a moment passed without one or two, sometimes four 

 or five, being visible, as they dashed up the runnels in 

 sport, or sprang lustily into the air. 



I rose numbers, and pricked several, before I suc- 

 ceeded in hooking one. But eventually I did hook one 

 in a very narrow part of the river, where it was rushing 

 fiercely through a huge cleft in the rocks. At first he 

 took down the stream at a fearful pace, and I thought 

 he was fairly off to the sea, and that my line must go 

 with him ; but my gilly contrived to head him, and by 

 throwing stones as he reached some calmer water, 

 drove him up the stream again. This, however, was 

 no improvement. One of the most critical stages of a 

 salmon's struggles is when he turns back and rushes 

 towards the fisherman. It is next to impossible to 

 wind up the line fast enough if the fish is darting as 

 rapidly as he generally does ; and the danger then is 

 that the tackle, catching on some stone or other 

 obstacle, may be suddenly snapped, or that, if it be- 

 comes slack, the fish may, as he can in a moment 

 suck it out of his flesh and escape. On the present 

 occasion I wound up my line as fast as I possibly 

 could, but it would not do ; and I was obliged to run 

 backwards to keep my line taut, at the risk of tumbling 

 over the stones and breaking my rod, line, and shins 

 together. However, as the fish fortunately did not 

 escape, this rush up the stream told considerably upon 

 him, and gave me a material advantage, for he now 



