OCTOBER ON THE STINCHAR. 363 



when the fish refused to notice his lure. Two small salmon 

 moved to my fly in the pool of Dub-a-nee, and two good ones 

 in the Scaur, the last all but hooking, as I struck sharply and 

 turned him on his side. During all this time my neighbour 

 rod did not incite a single offer. 



Showers in the night kept the river in the same trim as the 

 previous day, so my son was given the chance of the gled's 

 tail versus the turkey-cock's ! We divided Dub-a-nee fairly, 

 and had each cast over more than half of our water when my 

 companion called out that he had raised a splendid salmon. 

 Of course he passed down ten yards without disturbing him 

 further, and then fished blank to the end of the pool. Hav- 

 ing failed to move anything with showy colours, I chose the 

 small sombre fly which had already done good service for my 

 rod, while my comrade was to follow with the same hook 

 which had started the fish. While making these arrange- 

 ments, the river-watcher walked past, but without waiting to 

 see the result, as we meant to give the salmon a long rest. 



After sitting about an hour on the bank, I went carefully 

 over the high part of the pool, sweeping my fly above the 

 huge fish with most attractive jerks. No notice, however, 

 was taken of them, so the first temptation was again offered 

 by my neighbour rod, in the shape of the gled's tail. There 

 was no shyness this time, for with the greediness of a shark 

 he seized the hook, and both of us were instantly opposite the 

 struggling monster. With the exception of a spirited rush at 

 intervals, ending always in a dangerous shake or savage vault, 

 the play was fair and even. Striking first up, and then 

 across the stream, this strong and active salmon allowed him- 

 self to be turned whenever we approached difficult water, and 

 began soon to hoist " signals of distress." 



The angler had twice brought his victim within reach of 

 Sandy's extended gaff, which he had hardly evaded by a 

 languid sweep of the tail, when the watcher again hove in 

 sight at " double quick " time, having caught a glimpse of the 



