222 FISHING GOSSIP. 
I presume, combined with the imperfection of the 
gear employed for their capture, enables a con- 
siderable number to perform this heroic exploit. 
There are certain points of the river where this 
agreeable fact is made visible to the angler by the 
salmon themselves. One of these places is the weir 
of Erbistock Mill at Overton Bridge, distant some 
fifteen or sixteen miles road measurement from 
Chester, but many more by the numerous and grace- 
ful windings of the stream through this charming 
pastoral district. Here, on favourable occasions of 
weather and the state of the stream, the angler may 
enjoy the interesting spectacle of fresh-run fish 
“fencing” the opposing weir like so many trained 
hunters. The great majority of the fish, however, 
which gambol in the troubled waters of this fine 
pool are probably smolts that have not yet ventured 
to pass the complicated webs spread for their recep- 
tion by the merciless “ water-spiders” of Hambridge, 
in the passage of the lower Dee. Poor things! should 
they succeed in reaching the sea, fortunate indeed 
will be their lot if they ever return as grilse or salmon 
to the home of their youth, and show what fine 
fellows they have become since they grazed in those 
unknown pastures of the deep, whose anti-Banting 
properties are still a puzzle to ichthyologists. But 
even in this delightful locality, which might be sup- 
posed the abode of rural innocence and simplicity, 
