MINNOW AND PARR'S TAIL 235 



that is, when it is rather too low for the one, but 

 not low enough for the other. The best weather is a 

 fresh day, with wind to act upon the surface of the 

 deep pools. In summer the proper hour is early in 

 the morning. After a night's burning, salmon take 

 the minnow, small parr, or parr's tail, particularly 

 well in the streams. 



The best way of casting the minnow is precisely 

 that which I have indicated in my instructions for 

 fishing with the worm. 



As in a deer forest, however extensive, every burn, 

 rock, glen, moss, and mountain has its distinct ap- 

 pellation, so that you can describe with the greatest 

 accuracy where a hart has been slain, or any signal 

 event has happened ; so in a salmon river, every 

 stream and pool in which these delectable fish lie 

 is called by a name that either distinguishes its 

 character, or relates to some event or circumstance 

 which tradition has not always preserved. Some 

 casts are called after the names of persons who were 

 drowned in them : there is one such, yclept " Meg's 

 Hole," some little distance above the Melrose bridge. 

 I wonder who Meg was ; but Charles Purdie, who is 

 coming up the river, is right sure to tell me some 

 nonsense or another anent it, so I will sound him. 



' Well, Charlie, I see you have been putting all 

 the boats in place, so sit down upon the bank here 

 and rest yourself : pulling a boat up a strong stream 

 is hard work, and pulling several over is harder. 

 Now, tell me why the pool I fished the other day is 

 called Meg's Hole ; but stick to truth, mind, and do 

 not let me hear any of your foolish tales." 



