446 ANE CDOTE OF THE LA TE JOHN BRIGHT 



them to rise, inasmuch as when they are frightened by- 

 reason of one of their number being ' moved,' they 

 have nowhere to hide in, and they therefore He hud- 

 dled together for safety in such pools ; and unless the 

 water is very high, and even then just the right kind 

 of fly is used, they will not move, but as a rule run on 

 to the higher reaches near the spawning ground. In 

 such high water both grilse and peal will take the 

 largest salmon-flies, if the water is slightly discoloured, 

 but if clean, the usual standard flies must be used. 



But to revert to my anecdote of John Bright. He 

 was taken to the Groam Pool to try his luck, 

 like many a man before him had been. He had 

 never fished before, and evidently knew absolutely 

 nothing about it. He was told to cast over a spot 

 not more than three yards from him, but, without 

 being perceived, he, thinking thereby to steady the 

 line, contrived to give the latter a turn round 

 his forefinger. The result when he hooked a fish, 

 as he did at the very first cast, was that he gave an 

 agonized yell, and forthwith tumbled straight into the 

 river, the line having cut his finger nearly to the 

 bone, he meanwhile throwing the rod away to free his 

 finper. Lord Lovat, who had a gaff in his hand, 

 quietly slipped it into Mr. Bright's nether garments 

 and held him until he was pulled out by some friends 

 who were near ; for the gillie had gone after the rod, 

 and played the fish until Lord Lovat came up and 

 killed it. Mr. Bright was forced to walk home and 

 procure a change of clothes. Needless to add, he and 

 Lord Lovat never failed to chaff each other about it 

 ever afterwards. 



Another gentleman once came to Beaufort to fish, 



