DEES IDE JOTTINGS. 223 



the " rising generation " of the Salmonidse are not safe 

 from the wiles and ingenuity of the rustic poacher. 

 At a point commanding the pool below the weir 

 stands a suspicious-looking customer, apparently fish- 

 ing with flies. On more minute inspection, however, 

 his rod will be found to be rather longer and stiffer 

 than usual. On looking to his line, it will be ob- 

 served, that instead of being terminated by one of 

 more salmon-flies, it is armed by a large number or 

 naked dangling fish-hooks, with a small leaden 

 plummet at the end. Amongst the thickest of the 

 ruck of fish sporting in the pool, this demi-savage 

 ever and anon casts his infernal machine, in which 

 the barbarity of the spear is multiplied by the number 

 of the hooks and length of line, in the hope of course 

 that as he pulls it to him rapidly through the water, 

 some of the hooks may take effect, and drag one of 

 the fish ashore ! Whether the miscreant often suc- 

 ceeds in his dodge, I am unable to say ; ljut that he 

 puts it in practice at all is a certain index of the 

 large number of fish that must occasionally meet in 

 this pool Fly-fishing for salmon and trout would 

 naturally commence here on the Dee ; but though 

 there are many fine reaches for the purpose to within 

 a mile or two of Llangollen, this part of the stream is 

 so haunted by the neighbouring miners and their 

 coracles, that it is not much frequented by the regular 

 angler. 



