288 SPORTING STORIES 



on the same day, 25 dozen ; these were all about the size 

 of a herring ; the trout seldom exceed this size in the small 

 mountain streams. 



Among the curiosities of salmon-fishing I submit the 

 following from the Sporting Magazine oi July 1835. The 

 Rev. Mr Waring of Isleworth, having tired and brought to 

 the top of the water a fine salmon, and being on the point 

 of taking it into the punt, another large fish was observed 

 to be following close after it ; but so intent upon the pursuit 

 of the hooked one was he that the landing-hook was 

 inverted under his gill and he was taken without any 

 resistance. Upon examination it was found the first was 

 a female, and the second a male, and doubtless, as this 

 happened during the spawning season, the female was 

 about to deposit her eggs, and the male was following to 

 ensure the propagation of the species. 



In illustration of the queer things which salmon will 

 bolt, and particularly their love for anything bright, the 

 following anecdote is told. A gentleman of Uleaborg, 

 going by sea to Stockholm, dropped a silver spoon into 

 the water, which was swallowed by a salmon and carried 

 in his belly to Uleaborg, where the fish was accidentally 

 bought by the gentleman's wife, who immediately concluded, 

 on seeing the spoon, that her husband was shipwrecked ; 

 he returned, however, in time to prevent any ill conse- 

 quences. A somewhat similar incident occurred in 

 England not long ago. A large pike weighing 28 lbs. was 

 taken in the Ouse, and sold to a gentleman in Littleport. 

 When the cook cleaned the fish she found inside a watch 

 with black riband and keys, which had belonged to the 

 same gentleman's valet, who had been drowned in the 

 river some months before. 



Human sportsmen do not, however, have all the fun of 

 fishing to themselves. Mr Maxwell, in his Wild Sports 

 of the West, says that eagles are constantly discovered 

 watching the fords in the spawning time, and are seen to 

 seize and carry off the fish. Some years ago a herdsman 

 observed an eagle posted on a bank which overhung a 

 pool. Presently the bird stooped and seized a salmon, and 

 a violent struggle ensued ; the eagle being pulled under 



