SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 231 



eminent statesmen and professional men and others, 

 forming the brain power and intellect of the nation, is 

 spent annually in the northern wilds, the royal emporium 

 for the sportsman. Here in the 



"Land of brown heath and shaggy wood," 

 Land of the mountain and the flood, 



the roving disciple of the rod wanders up to the head of 

 the river, into the heart of the mountains, sometimes 

 cheered by the pleasant converse of a few true men and 

 honest anglers like himself, often alone with nature in 

 her fairest or wildest loveliness. Solitary or social, his 

 appreciation of all the sweet charms of wild nature is 

 ever keen and lively. Ubiquitous even as the "Murray"- 

 bearing British Tourist is now the rod-carrying British 

 angler. For his enthusiasm Scotland's most extortionate 

 hotels have no terrors, nor do Norway's ruggedest soli- 

 tudes and coarsest fare deter him from seeking the lordly 

 salmon by many a "fjord" and "foss." 



Before passing on to the practical part of the art, it 

 will be necessary to enumerate the chief articles requisite 

 to a tolerable equipment. 



The ROD first claims our attention. The remarks anent 

 the choice of a rod for fly-fishing as also winch and line 

 for small stream fishing apply equally to salmon-fishing. 

 The lake and large river implement is of necessity of 

 greater dimensions. The Castle Connell style of rod is 

 tolerably good for some waters; but the small "grip" or 

 hand-hold afforded by the slender stock has a very cramp- 

 ing effect when the rod is wielded industriously for a 

 lengthened period. The six-feet joints, with the delicate 

 spliced extremities, are very liable to damage whilst 

 travelling. Greenheart is undoubtedly the best wood 

 for heavy work. There are, however, good and bad varie- 

 ties of every description of wood without exception. 

 Thus we have indifferent Greenheart, Wahaba, Maho, 

 and Locust, just as often, and perhaps more so than not, 



