38o SALMON AND TROUT. 



say, in other words, that it is only certain rivers and lakes in 

 which the spinning bait can be used with any probability of 

 success. For example, on the Clare-Galway river, which 

 debouches into Loch Corrib, when there is a little freshet on 

 in September or October the spinning eel-tail is considered the 

 most attractive bait. On the Tweed, again, the real minnow, 

 spun as I am about to describe, is most deadly, though, un- 

 fortunately for the spinner, not allowed, I believe, to be used. 

 On the Aberdeenshire Dee, again, where it is permitted, the 

 minnow is exceedingly effective, whilst on other waters, as, 

 for example, on the Awe and Lochy, two of the most cele- 

 brated salmon rivers of Scotland, it is of no earthly use, and 

 the minnow spinner might, for all practical purposes, as well 

 fling his hat in. Still, as I have said, there are some rivers, 

 and those good ones, where the spun minnow is often a deadly 

 bait ; whilst trolling for salmon with a parr — or rather (to be 

 conformable to law) with a small trout— is regularly and 

 successfully practised on numerous and widely distributed 

 lakes. 



As to the tackle, therefore, for these purposes, and the 

 mode of using it, beginning with the parr or small trout-bait : 



From 3^ to 4 inches, measuring from the nose to the end 

 of the tail-fin, is the most perfect length for this bait— the 

 larger size, or something between the two, perhaps, for choice. 

 A facsimile bait of 3^ inches is figured in the cut, together 

 with the tackle for spinning it. This is an enlargement, to 

 suit the larger bait, of my original ' minnow ' flight, but with a 

 movable lip-hook substituted for a fixed one, and the gut 

 'lead-link' attached, as shown, by a loop long enough to 

 admit of a reasonable variation in the size of the bait em- 

 ployed, whilst at the same time removing an obstacle to the 

 proper set of the lip-hook when the gut link did not happen to 

 be exactly of the right length. This addition was what was 

 required to make the tackle really complete for the ordinary 

 troller, not disposed to trouble himself with too great 'nice- 

 ties,' or carrying about with him several different sizes of 



