THE BOOK OF THE OTTER 



very nearly succeeded once. This seems so 



unusual to me that it would be of great interest 



if others have had a similar experience. This 



incident took place about eight in the evening, and 



in a pool where there was only an opening of a 



few feet where one could gaff the fish owing to 



trees. The trees undoubtedly accounted for the 



otter failing to see me, but as soon as he raised his 



head above water in midstream and saw that there 



were others as well as himself after that fish he soon 



cleared off, and the fish was successfully landed. 



The wild rushes made by the salmon after the otter's 



first attempt were extraordinary, as the fish was 



about done and fit for gaffing. To me this was a 



clear proof of the instinctive fear and wonderful 



vitality in a fish when his natural enemy appeared." 



Other instances of a similar nature have been 



recorded from time to time, in some of which the 



otter has succeeded in taking the hooked fish. 



There is no doubt that an otter or otters frighten 



fish, particularly salmon, when chasing them about 



a pool. The instinct of all wild animals is to 



58 



