168 GOLDEN DAYS 



His methods are very skilful, and though 

 they would astound an orthodox Scotch 

 gillie, they prove most effectual on Breton 

 waters. 



There is a peculiar cry known only to 

 the Bretons which denotes the hooking of a 

 fish. This sound brings other peasants to 

 the river-bank, where they take up posi- 

 tions beside sunken roots or other snags and 

 there thrash the water with whin-branches. 

 Thus is the salmon warded off dangerous 

 points and forced into safer and more open 

 water. In Brittany we do not of custom 

 "play our fish for some twenty minutes 

 before bringing him to the gaff" — indeed, I 

 have seen a salmon hooked and landed in 

 less than four. 



The tackle of necessity was very strong, 

 but the rod was handled with astonishing 

 skill, lifted over or round the most impos- 

 sible thorn-bushes and tree-boles with 

 never a moment of slack line from start to 

 finish. Someone had climbed out on a 

 prone tree-trunk above the river and there 

 waited his chance. It came as the salmon 

 passed swiftly below. The gaff shot out 

 and down. There was a splash and a 



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