312 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



fish in a river should, at exactly the same moment of the day, 

 come to an agreement to rise short, to lie like stones at the 

 bottom, to refuse all lures, then suddenly and altogether take it 

 into their heads to jump ahout, rise at a bait, take or disdain 

 it. As Sothern used to say in "Lord Dundreary," "it is 

 a thing that no fellow can understand." 



No doubt the fish are affected by present or prospective 

 changes in the weather, but why, without one exception, over 

 the whole length of the river ? We, when old, rheumatic, and 

 with bronchial troubles, are similarly influenced, but why 

 should it affect all these fish just up from the sea, full of youth, 

 health and strength ? 



Below the castle are two swift water pools, and beyond the 

 bridge is another, grand places for the fly, but strong tackle is 

 necessary with these big fish who make your reel sing and your 

 feet move to keep up with them. Below the last " tail " the 

 river runs more leisurely and is very deep, in pools, on our side 

 under a high, steep, bushy bank. This is a favourite resort for 

 big fish, and apparently they are more ready to take here than 

 elsewhere. I never fished this reach unsuccessfully. It was on 

 this water that I landed another big fish, scaling 30 J Ibs., 

 on a killogh this time the fly cannot be used on account of a 

 long line of trees close to the river. He was a beautiful fish 

 straight from the sea, who fought hard for forty minutes by the 

 watch ; pnlling, tugging, and rolling about, he caused many 

 anxious moments. When near the bank at last, and ready 

 apparently to meet the gaff, he started off once again across to 

 the other side, which already he had visited several times, but 

 more slowly on this occasion, as if tired but yet anxious once 

 more to see some friend perhaps, or favourite locality. Thoughts 

 like these on such occasions, accompanied by the plaintive wail 

 of the reel, as it slowly revolves, are sad ones, sadness, however, 

 to be rapidly dispelled and changed to those feelings of triumph 

 and pleasure with which the noble fish is received on being 

 safely laid on the grass. Another part of the river, a mile or so 

 higher up, was not a lucky spot for me, although others counted 

 it the best of the whole fishing. I tried it often, but was 

 successful on two days only. The fish were there no doubt, but 

 treated my efforts with contempt, which was very aggravating 

 and tiring on those long and rather monotonous reaches. When 



