place has had. These mailers comprise lafonnaliun wliicli is ahiiost 

 indispensable. 



To introduce Ihe more definile parliculars, an inslancc of 

 ascerlaining such desirable information — a vivid instance, one might 

 say — recently came under personal observation, and is sufficiently 

 interesting to be worth recounting in more or less detail. 



While on the way towards a pool, the characteristics of which 

 have supplied the materials for our present consideration, a young 

 sportsman (not the one mentioned in the opening sentences), 

 approached in wet waders. On exchanging words, we learnt, not 

 from him, bythe-bye, but from the gillie— that the Slack, "literally 

 hlive with fish, had been tlirashed for three whole hours." After 

 getting a number of details relating to the i)roceedings, a distant 

 figure appeared, strolling steadily along with rod in hand. Feeling 

 certain that we were making for the same pool, and being close there 

 ourselves, we waited till he came up. On he came, and said : " You 

 seem to be courteously waiting for me ? " 



" Certainly," one of us replied. 



It was the lonely gentleman himself, ami lie then jnit a question 

 or two which came somewhat as a surprise. 



" Kindly say why you give way. Was it because you saw that 1 

 was a stranger, or, knowing that some other chap had been here 

 beforehand, you meant to give the siiow a thorough good rest before 

 trying it yourself? " 



Evidently, this was a man remarkably well-informed, and of no 

 end of salmon fishing experience. 



T3eing unusually interested by his remarks, we, or rather 1, 

 expressed much pleasure in giving way under the circumstances, and 



