FLOOD, SALMON, AND STARLINGS 307 



last long. Kelts when hooked were landed as soon as possible 

 after having been recognised, so as not to exhaust them more 

 than necessary, measured, labelled, and returned. Although 

 this has been done during the last three seasons not one of 

 those fish has returned to the river, at all events none appear 

 to have been taken by rod, box, or net, as the reward offered for 

 the label has never been claimed.* 



Towards the end of my stay kelts became less numerous as 

 they slowly descended towards the sea, their convalescent home. 

 Their presence caused many a disappointment ; still, I thought 

 it better to have something on now and then than nothing 

 at all. 



The thick, coffee-coloured water of a flood probably affects the 

 fish as a dense, yellow-brown fog does a Londoner ; unable to 

 see a yard ahead, both are afraid to move or touch anything 

 in the very least suspicious. 



An American lately suggested that a small electric battery 

 be attached to the rod and connected by means of a wire in 

 the line with the hook. Should some accident then happen 

 to the rod or the fish prove unmanageable or too heavy for 

 the tackle, the current would be switched on and the fish 

 thereby killed or stunned. Now, with the rod equipped on 

 the plan of that American, my suggestion would be to attach 

 a tiny electric lamp to the head of minnow or fly, and thus 

 in the thick brown flood water render visible and display to 

 the fish the beauties of either lure. 



The various pools were first fished over with a fly, unless the 

 water was too thick, or high, or both, and then again with 

 a minnow or " killogh " (rock loach) t on crocodile flight. Thus 

 every choice was given to the fish. The killogh proved the most 

 attractive and killing bait ; it could only be got, however, when 

 the water ran low in the mountain burns, " tickled " by boys 

 under the rocks. 



* One was got eleven months later in an adjoining river opening into the 

 same estuary as this one, and had increased 5 inches in length and 10 Ibs. 5 ozs. 

 in weight. 



f John Eidd, in " Lorna Doone," gives a vivid description of the taking of 

 loach in his youth prodding them in the hill streams with a fork ; he also 

 certifies to their great use as a remedy and appetiser in the case of his dyspeptic 

 mother, when prepared as follows : " Loaches baked in the kitchen oven with 

 vinegar, a dozen leaves of bay, and about a dozen peppercorns." 



