54 Sweden. 



I could not dodge in and out when I liked on to any preserved 

 water on the sides of the stream. 



I never, however, set foot on any gentleman's or peasant's ground 

 in Sweden without first asking leave, and the proprietor was always 

 welcome to a liberal share of the game or fish which I might kill ; 

 and I recommend every foreigner in a strange country to do the 

 same as regards the real owner of the soil. But somehow or other 

 I regard a proprietor who preserves his own land on which he is 

 residing, in a very different light from a rich Englishman, who 

 probably owns hundreds of acres of good sporting at home, but not 

 content with this, comes over to a land of which he knows nothing 

 and cares less, when I, a poorer man, but quite as good a sportsman 

 as himself, have settled among the people, have become, as it were, 

 one of them, and am hoping to enjoy a little sport in freedom 

 which, on account of my means, is denied me at home. If such is 

 to be the case, a dozen or two rich lords will have it in their power 

 to monopolize the whole sporting in Northern Europe. 



This nuisance is now becoming rather too much of a good thing, 

 and I would seriously advise any sportsman before he leaves England, 

 never mind for what out-of-the-way country he may be bound, 

 first to advertise in the columns of the Field, and beg to know, not 

 whether the inhabitants of the country he is about to visit have any 

 objection to his doing so, but whether any countryman of his own 

 objects. 



Now, I therefore advise every man who has the dream or inclina- 

 tion to try a little salmon-fishing in Norway, not to be the least 

 deterred or frightened by the interested reports he may hear in 

 England of all these northern waters being taken up. I am certain 

 that there are lots of places where he will find open water, if he only 

 has a good guide ; and even on the preserved waters he will, I fancy, 

 always get fishing, if he is willing to pay for it. These peasants 

 have not the least conscience or sense of honour in a bargain like 

 this. Moreover, most of this fishing and shooting is paid for by a 

 very nominal rent, and so badly looked after that although it may 

 sound all very grand when a man tells you in England that he rents 



