SALMON-FISHING 253 



The artificial fly is pre-eminently the lure for the 

 salmon-angler. Taking rivers and seasons all round, 

 the fly will easily beat anything else. Moreover, it 

 is a clean and artistic method of catching salmon. 



But to say that the fly shall be the only lure is to 

 suggest a paucity of idea, a want of resource, which 

 are very far from being the prevailing characteristics 

 of the angler class. To catch salmon with worm, 

 or prawn, or other bait, is, moreover, a skilful art, 

 requiring some handiness and experience, and also a 

 knowledge of the water and of the habits of the fish. 

 Therefore, if it is lawful to catch salmon at all, let us 

 be permitted, in reason, to use other angling means 

 besides fly, if necessity compels. 



Many a blank day have I saved in Irish, Scotch, 

 and Norway waters by means of bait, when at times 

 the fly proved absolutely useless. I remember well 

 a day on the Stinchar River in Ayrshire, late in 

 October. I was staying at Daljarroch with my uncle, 

 W. S. Seton-Karr, and on a certain afternoon found 

 myself on the banks of the Smithy pool. 



There had been a good run of autumn fish, but 

 they were in objectionable mood and no fly would 

 move them. I had the gardener's boy in attendance, 

 and by the same token he had at my suggestion 

 brought along a bag of worms from the garden. So 

 I put up an artistic tackle, and searched the bed of 

 the Smithy pool with a fat bunch of worms. 



The whole art of the proceeding is so to weight 

 and manoeuvre the line that, while rocks are avoided, 

 the worms are presented to each salmon in the pool in 

 natural fashion. 



Presently came a slight draw at the line, then 

 a few jerks, then again a steady draw. If the line 



