SALMON. 107 



the Laird ; and it would have been too much 

 to have anticipated a courteous greeting from 

 one, who considers us as the representatives 

 of an enemy. But I see there is a large fish 

 which has just risen at the tail of the pool. I 

 think he is fresh run from the sea, for the tide 

 is coming in. My fly and tackle are almost 

 too fine for so large a fish, and I will put on 

 my first fly with a very strong single gut link 

 and a stretcher of triple gut. He has taken 

 my fly, and I hold him a powerful fish : he 

 must be between 10 and 15lbs. He fights 

 well, and tries to get up the rapid at the top 

 of the pool. I must try my strength with him, 

 to keep him off that rock, or he will break me. 

 I have turned him, and he is now in a good 

 part of the< pool : such a fish cannot be tired 

 in a minute or two, but requires from ten 

 to twenty, depending upon his activity and 

 strength, and the rapidity of the stream he 

 moves against. He is now playing against 

 the strongest rapid in the river, and will soon 

 give in, should he keep his present place. 



POIET. You have tired him. 



HAL. He seems fairly tired: I shall bring 



