216 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



It should be stated that, at the same time General 

 A., who is a most agreeable and accomplished Eussian, 

 had three boats out, making five boats in all on the 

 small area of water composing this one pool, which 

 were constantly passing and repassing one another, 

 the baits being at times below or beyond the neigh- 

 bouring boat, which might be crossing the current 

 immediately below. 



The three other boats, however, were not so fortu- 

 nate. The next day we thought it right to leave, as 

 the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Vladimir of Eussia 

 were coming on the day following to stay with Gen. A. 

 for three days, to try their luck with these great trout 

 of Finland, as they had never before enjoyed anything 

 of the kind, in order to allow them a fair chance. 



The following extracts are taken indiscriminately 

 from the early journals of the Haraka Fishing Club : 



Sept. 29, 1876. This records the breaking of the 

 bad spell under which my fishing this bout has unfor- 

 tunately laboured, while it also casts a roseate hue 

 over this autumnal leaf. At 4 A.M. on this particular 

 Friday I issued forth with Johann Haraka, full of 

 faith and hope, and, after a not reluctant wakening, 

 armed with a Totness minnow, from which I had 

 carefully removed the paint. On the first turn from 

 " grayling point " I suddenly experienced the delight- 

 ful sensation of a big tug, my rod slipping a little 

 through my hand. In a moment I struck upwards 

 from the butt and wrist, and then came the whirring 

 of the reel, which, as every angler knows, is the true 



