SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 235 



hooked a good salmon, but at the expiration of two- 

 thirds of an hour had not succeeded in landing it, owing 

 to our peculiar position. We had hooked our fish whilst 

 bank fishing upon a perpendicular rock, some six or 

 eight feet above the surface of the water. During the 

 greater part of this time the salmon had been active, so 

 much so, that more than once our fine gear was in immi- 

 nent danger of being severed. After these plunges and 

 wild determined rushes to 'and fro had subsided, our 

 quarry finally settled, in deep water, near the rock upon 

 which we stood. There an unpleasant jiggering motion 

 was described by the line. 



In this instance, the water being comparatively clear, 

 the movements of the fish were plainly discernible. Some 

 ten feet or so from its surface he was energetically rub- 

 bing his snout upon a jutting part of the rock, from 

 right to left, and left to right, without a moment's ces- 

 sation. We ran paper down the line in the usual way, 

 to no purpose, the exasperating " rub-rub" still con- 

 tinuing. Donald, the keeper, had meanwhile set off to 

 explore for pebbles, but even this chance was denied, he 

 returning as he went, empty-handed. As a last desperate 

 effort, our pocket key-ring was fixed on the line (it being 

 split steel), and run down. No sooner was this accom- 

 plished than the fish dashed away towards the open. 

 Now for the first time the thought struck us that if the 

 fish was not taken our keys were irrecoverably lost. Re- 

 gretting our impetuosity, we cautiously gave and took 

 line as occasion required. The presence of the nose ring 

 and jingling appendages, meanwhile kept the fish in 

 action. This, however, speedily told upon him, and 

 finally he was safely gaffed in a more accessible situation. 

 Since this occurred, we have had a number of small 

 bright metal rings made, which we have found most 

 useful for both sulky and jiggering fish. 



Another frequent freak of the fish is to make for un- 



