DEESIDE FOTTINGS. 223 
the “ rising generation” of the Salmonide are not safe 
from the wiles and ingenuity of the rustic poacher, 
At a point commanding the pool below the weir 
stands a suspicious-looking customer, apparently fish- 
ing with flies. On more minute inspection, however, 
his rod will be found to be rather longer and stiffer 
than usual. On looking to his line, it will be ob- 
served, that instead of being terminated by one of 
more salmon-flies, it is armed by a large number or 
naked dangling fish-hooks, with a small leaden 
plummet at the end. Amongst.the thickest of the 
ruck of fish sporting in the pool, this demi-savage 
ever and anon casts his infernal machine, in which 
the barbarity of the spear is multiplied by the number 
of the hooks and length of line, in the hope of course 
that as he pulls it to him rapidly through the water, 
some of the hooks may take effect, and drag one of 
the fish ashore! Whether the miscreant often suc- 
ceeds in his dodge, I am unable to say; but that he 
puts it in practice at all is a certain index of the 
large number of fish that must occasionally meet in 
this pool. Fly-fishing for salmon and trout would 
naturally commence here on the Dee; but though 
there are many fine reaches for the purpose to within 
a mile or two of Llangollen, this part of the stream is 
so haunted by the neighbouring miners and their 
coracles, that it is not much frequented by the regular 
angler. 
