358 THE MODE AND THE LOCH. 



from the bank between the deep and shallow water. The fish 

 was, however, again stubborn, and my only other rise was a 

 sea-trout, attracted by my salmon-fly in the still water of 

 " Dub-a-nee," our highest and choicest pool, which I landed. 



At daybreak my son again found his way to the Scaur, when 

 his fish came up so keenly that he felt certain of a " fix " next 

 time. He was only 8J Ib. weight, but proved a fine clean 

 salmon, having made spirited play for fifteen minutes. This 

 was counted our first fish of the season, for we agree with the 

 Fishing Guide of the Tweed, in his distinction of terms. On 

 an Englishman's landing what he called a " fish " on the bank, 

 the old man gave it a contemptuous kick muttering, "Ye 

 dunna ken a bit gilsh whan ye see ane afore ye." 



More rain fell, and the water rose high again. As usual, 

 my son was at the bank of the river by daylight. In Dub-a- 

 nee he hooked at the first offer another clean salmon of 9 Ib., 

 and late in the day its facsimile. The first was easily landed; 

 but the fish of the evening made several strange gambols, 

 ending by boring round a tree, surrounded by an eddy, on the 

 opposite bank. This fish would have been lost, without a 

 doubt, if a spectator had not been able to untwist and set it 

 free. An old farmer wandered down from his turnip-field, 

 was satisfied the angler had caught only a branch, and asking 

 no questions, quietly returned to his work. The next day, on 

 being " chaffed " for his want of interest in the sport, he re- 

 torted in his Ayrshire patois, " I thocht it was the tree ye had 

 cotched." 



The first rain brought chiefly small fish, but the giants were 

 not long in following. October was now advancing, and the 

 first night -frost whitened the ground after a day of heavy 

 showers. Although the pools were in capital order, the night- 

 rime effectually prevented the fish, before breakfast, from 

 rising to the most tempting changes of fly. About noon, 

 however, when the sun was warmest, a light breeze and 

 fleecy clouds gave promise of a favourable day. 



