88 A SALMON LOST. 



considerations, was an obstacle of but trifling moment. 

 I am told that at the high tides, when the sea almost 

 reaches this narrow throat, the salmon may be seen in 

 numbers, passing by one leap from the salt to the 

 fresh water, though they will not often take the fly so 

 near the sea. On the present occasion, my tackle 

 being packed, I did not make the attempt, but my 

 companion cast carelessly three or four times into the 

 "Pot," while I proceeded on our homeward route. 

 Scarcely however had I advanced ten yards, when I 

 was arrested by a shout, and on looking round, saw 

 his rod almost bent double by some huge fish, which 

 at once plunged into the lowest depths of the pool, and 

 quickly ran out several yards of line. For a moment 

 there was a sullen pause, and we all stood in intense 

 anxiety and suspense, for the fish was evidently a 

 monster ; when a sudden dash once more renewed the 

 strain on rod and line ; and in another moment, strong 

 and well-tried as it was, the latter snapped, and all 

 was over. The fish had doubtless sawn it asunder on 

 the sharp edge of some rock, and had gone away with 

 the fly and some twenty yards of horsehair. 



Such was the provoking termination of our inter- 

 course with the " genus Salmo " for this year, an 

 intercourse from which, beginning though it did at a 

 late period in the season, I had derived great enjoy- 

 ment and advantage ; having been, on the whole, 

 fortunate beyond my greatest expectations, and having, 

 in spite of inexperience and clumsy skill, met with 

 more than average sport. What Horace says of the 

 poet is also, to a certain extent, true of the fisherman, 

 " Nascitur, non fit." And yet the reverse also is 

 true to a degree. For though he must have an inborn 

 taste for the pursuit, yet it must also be a work of time 



