112 OBSERVATIONS ON A SALMON RIVER 



go wrong with " Jock Scott/' " Thunder 

 and Lightning," or " Silver Doctor " ; but 

 I found some of the sober old Tay Turkey- 

 Wings quite as effectual as their more gaudy- 

 rivals. 



We generally had three or four canoes 

 out. Two men were told off to each, and 

 William Dimmock, " gardien " of the river 

 — an excellent fellow, and most skillful and 

 trustworthy in a boat — was in supreme 

 command of the whole flotilla. Of the 

 prowess of these men as navigators I have 

 already spoken. Their skill in the use of 

 the gaff was almost inconceivable ; but I am 

 bound to say that the gaff which they used 

 was a most barbarous weapon. It was a 

 pole almost as long as a punt pole, armed 

 with a huge curved iron head shaped some- 

 thing like a shepherd's crook. With these 

 gaffs they would, if allowed, take the most 

 extraordinary liberties ; and I have over and 

 over again seen them snatch an only half- 

 played fish in the middle of the roughest 

 water long before he was really ready for 



