296 Unexplored Spain 



others greatly reduced their numbers. There yet remain, never- 

 theless, rivers in Asturias (such as the Deva and Cares) where 

 sahnon abound, and where numbers are still caught — chiefly by 

 net, though rod-fishing is gradually extending its popularity, 

 " owintT to the sjlorious emotions it excites." 



A local method deserves a word of description. In the crystal- 

 clear waters of N. Spain salmon are regularly captured by 

 expert divers. Its exact position having been marked, the diver, 

 swimming warily up from behind, slips a running noose over the 

 salmon's head. The noose draws tight as the fish begins to run ; 

 an attached line is then hauled upon by a second fisherman on 

 the bank. 



The Marquis de Villaviciosa de Asturias writes us : — 



It is a common practice with the fishermen to dive and capture 



salmon in their arms (a hrazo). My grandfather, the Marquis de 



Camposagrado, caught twelve thus in a single morning in the river 

 Nalon in Asturias. 



(8) Bear-Hunting in Asturias 



To the same nobleman (one of the first sportsmen of Spain) 

 we are indebted for the following note : — 



As regards the chase of the bear in Asturias, where I have killed 

 four, I may say that it commences in September, at which period the 

 bears are in the liabit of descending nightly from the higher mountain- 

 forests to the lower ground in order to raid the maize-fields in the valleys. 

 Expert trackers, sent out at daybreak, spoor the bear right up to which- 

 ever covert he may have entered, and from which no further tracks 

 emerge beyond. 



The locality at which the animal has laid up being thus ascertained, 

 a monteria (mountain-drive) is organised — the beaters being provided 

 with crackers, empty tins, hunting-horns, and every sort of ear-splitting 

 engine — even the services of the bagpiper ^ are requisitioned I 



Tliree or four guns are usually required, and are posted along the 

 line where the bear is most likely to break — such as where the forest 

 runs out to a point ; or where it is narrowed by some projecting spur of 

 precipitous rocks ; or a deep valley where the covert is flanked by a 

 mountain-torrent that restricts and defines the probable line of escape. 



The bear (which is in the habit of attacking and destroying much 



^ Gaitero is the word used. The gaita is a musical instrument which we may translate as 

 bagpipes. 



