10 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



to the reel only. Besides, my host himself 

 gave evidence in favour of William's 

 doctrine. He mentioned that he had 

 repeatedly tried for salmon in the Tay 

 with a lure spun directly from a reel, and 

 had on every occasion hooked more fish 

 than had been hooked on a similar lure 

 spun from a rod in the same boat. While 

 debating with William he did not perceive 

 that such incidents as those I have 

 mentioned go to show that a rigid 

 attachment of the line is better than a 

 pliable attachment, and that, therefore, a 

 stiff or stiffish rod is better than a whippy 

 one. 



The opening day was spent mainly in 

 contention over the ways and means of 

 catching salmon. Our boat was "clean" 

 when we were back to the landing-stage. 

 It had, however, been a very pleasant day ; 

 and when we entered our hotel, soon 

 after dusk, salmon displayed in the hall, 

 together with tidings from other quarters 

 of the waterside, showed that, despite 

 the barrier at the mouth of the Lyon, 



