320 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



Young herring, from their shining scales, are found to be 

 a most enticing bait for salmon. I have often tried them 

 with success, especially in the lochs. Of course they must be 

 used salt. The great objection to using them in the river is, 

 that they are so very tender. 



Should the water be confined, and the streams narrow and 

 rapid, every inch may be searched by standing at the pool- 

 head, and letting out line by yard-lengths, shifting the bait 

 alternately from one side to the other until all the reel be 

 nearly expended. Unless the river is flooded, very little lead 

 is required. Pull your line, instead of winding it, slowly back 

 again, searching as before, and when satisfied, wind up and 

 proceed to another pool. When the river is broad, and you 

 require to throw, you can make very far casts, as the parr is 

 tough and not easily spoiled. Swing it gently back as far as 

 you can, and then bring it forward in the same way. I have 

 seen a man with only one arm, a perfect master of this kind 

 of throwing so much does it depend upon a little knack. 

 Some will say that very rapid spinning is not good. But I 

 have always found, both in boat and river trolling, whether 

 with minnow or parr, that the more rapid and true the spin- 

 ning, the greater my chance of stirring the fish. When troll- 

 ing for salmon or large shy trout, I therefore adopt the mode 

 of the Thames fishermen, on account of the superiority of the 

 spinning, as well as the lesser risk of missing the fish. 



When the diminishing water prevents the salmon from 

 rising at the parr, you may still succeed with minnow, in the 

 streams, especially about dusk. Very large trout, also, that 

 scarcely ever rise to fly, dash freely after the minnow when 

 the sun is down. They may also take it in the daytime, if the 

 water should be a little swollen and the sky cloudy. But the 

 river salmon-fisher is more indebted to bait than either parr or 

 minnow ; and for this reason, that salmon will take a worm 

 when the river is so low that they refuse all other kinds of 

 prey. In river-angling a large hook should be used, and a 



