36 FISHING GOSSIP. 



bank, eight splendid grilse from 7lbs. to lOlbs. each, 

 and might have taken we do not know how many 

 more, but that an accident put an end to his fishing 

 for the time. The whole affair was over in less than 

 two hours. 



Now suppose such a piece of luck happening un- 

 expectedly to a young Englishman, not overburdened 

 with cash, who had gone to the Highlands for a 

 month's excursion, why, a thousand pounds in his 

 pocket would not be equivalent to the gratification ; 

 years would not dim the recollection of it, his heart 

 would beat warmly to the North every time he spoke 

 of it ; and, let us add, per contra, it might cost him a 

 good many thousands before he saw the end of it ; 

 for, if fortune proved prosperous, a salmon river 

 would never be far distant from the scene of his 

 recreation. Clipping a salmon is like " taking the 

 shilling ;" it enlists you for life. Of course one does 

 not take eight " fish " Scottice for salmon or grilse 

 every two hours one wields a rod ; but it is hard 

 to see the long swirling pools of a Highland river 

 unoccupied day after day when the fish are taking, 

 and when it would do no perceptible harm to the sport 

 of the lessee if a tourist had leave to try his luck in 

 some of the pools. Of the eight fish that we refer to, 

 probably not one would have been in the same pool 

 next morning, and they were but a small part of the 

 shoal brought up .by one tide to replenish the river. 



