THE SALMON FISHEK. 41 



every other lure proves useless, the phantom and the 

 spoon divide the honors between them, but when 

 the sweeping flood is of that inky black color, the 

 phantom has to yield the palm to the spoon, which 

 under such conditions reigns supreme. In early 

 autumn the streams are often of this abominable 

 color, the early floods being dyed with the hues of 

 decaying vegetation, often attributed to the swill- 

 ings of peat bogs. Then, if a salmon be brought to 

 book at all, it will most likely be with the spoon. 

 Although spoon baits may be successfully used 

 under other conditions than the above, such as in 

 searching streamy water, even when small and clear, 

 they are par excellence the lure in heavy waters." 



More than ever before is bait fishing becoming the 

 vogue now in Scottish salmon rivers. ".Not so very 

 long ago," says one resident observer, " an angler 

 detected in the act of using any other lure than the 

 fly would, in most districts, have been looked upon 

 as a pot-hunter and poacher, and shunned by true 

 sportsmen accordingly. Now, however, with the 

 march of progress tempora mutantur, and the minnow, 

 prawn or worm is unblushingly mounted, and salmon 



