BRITTANY. 211 



the large ones night and morning, and the small ones in the 

 middle of the day. 



It was now drawing towards the end of the month of 

 September, 1837, and I had not yet succeeded in catching 

 or even hooking a salmon. In fact, since my first few trials 

 at the beginning of the season, I had thrown aside my two- 

 handed rod and salmon flies altogether, and fished generally 

 with a fourteen-foot rod and strong trout tackle, as I fre~ 

 quently hooked a sea trout of four or five pounds weight, 

 which showed quite as much sport as a small salmon. Some 

 heavy rain had fallen for several days, and the river, which 

 had been for some time unusually low, was much swollen. 

 I cantered my pony over to Knockynolly with the expecta- 

 tion of some excellent trout-fishing, and the water being 

 rather coloured, used a strong casting line and the largest of 

 my favourite flies, but for a long time whipped the water in 

 vain. At length I had a dull, heavy rise, and upon striking, 

 perceived I had hooked a very large fish ; indeed, not having 

 more than thirt} T -five or forty yards of line upon my reel, 

 I began to fear he would outrun and break away from me. 

 Fortunately, however, the part of the river upon which I 

 was fishing was clear of trees, and with low shelving banks, 

 that enabled me to keep pace with my fish, the genus and 

 quality of which I soon discovered to be a fine fresh run 

 salmon of about twelve pounds. 



Having no gaff, and no one with me except a little Breton 

 boy, who carried my creel and net, I almost despaired of 

 landing him, and saw there was nothing for it but patience, 

 and to tire him out, and drown him. Luckily he was a very 

 active fish, and never attempted to sulk at the bottom ; so 

 that in about half an hour I had him in shallow water, near 

 the bank, with his white belly upwards, when reeling close 

 up, and giving my rod to the boy, I slipped into the water 

 and fairly hustled him on shore, where he turned out to be 



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