222 FISHING GOSSIP. 



I presume, combined with the imperfection of the 

 gear employed for their capture, enables a con- 

 siderable number to perform this heroic exploit. 

 There are certain points of the river where this 

 agreeable fact is made visible to the angler by the 

 salmon themselves. One of these places is the weir 

 of Erbistock Mill at Overton Bridge, distant some 

 fifteen or sixteen miles road measurement from 

 Chester, but many more by the numerous and grace- 

 ful windings of the stream through this charming 

 pastoral district. Here, on favourable occasions of 

 weather and the state of the stream, the angler may 

 enjoy the interesting spectacle of fresh-run fish 

 " fencing " the opposing weir like so many trained 

 hunters. The great majority of the fish, however, 

 which gambol in the troubled waters of this fine 

 pool are probably smolts that have not yet ventured 

 to pass the complicated webs spread for their recep- 

 tion by the merciless " water-spiders " of Hambridge, 

 in the passage of the lower Dee. Poor things ! should 

 they succeed in reaching the sea, fortunate indeed 

 will be their lot if they ever return as grilse or salmon 

 to the home of their youth, and show what fine 

 fellows they have become since they grazed in those 

 unknown pastures of the deep, whose anti-Banting 

 properties are still a puzzle to ichthyologists. But 

 even in this delightful locality, which might be sup- 

 posed the abode of rural innocence and simplicity, 



