62 DEESIDE IN FEBEUARY 



Tay as the Black Dog. A sombre, malignant-looking 

 creature it is, bearded with long sable hackles from a 

 heron's breast, and framed after the similitude of 

 nothing in the heavens above, nor in the earth beneath, 

 nor in the waters under the earth. Nevertheless, it 

 has lured many a bold salmon to his death. 



Nor did it fail me on this occasion, for I had not 

 made a dozen casts before the line drew taut and the 

 hook went home in something. In spring salmon- 

 fishing the problem becomes urgent when one hooks a 

 fish whether it is clean or foul ? Is it a springer fresh 

 from the salt water in all its matchless panoply of 

 silver and pearl? Or is it a lanky kelt returning to 

 the sea after discharging parental functions in the 

 upper waters ? Often it is not until the fish is brought 

 close to the bank that this important question can be 

 decided. In this instance the salmon was of the 

 right sort, but such a small one to come out of so big 

 a river that its captor felt a tinge of shame for his 

 powerful rod, heavy line, treble gut, and great hook. 

 The first salmon of the season weighed but six 

 pounds ! 



Matters improved later in the day ; and throughout 

 the first week the usual average weight of spring fish 

 in the Dee was increased by the capture of a twenty- 

 one pounder, and several others between twelve pounds 

 and fifteen pounds. But oh those kelts ! how they 

 strain one's back and tax one's patience. On the first 

 day, besides four clean fish, I had to land and return 

 to the water eleven kelts, some of them very large and 

 lusty. 



