THE SALMOlf FAMILY. 259 



stone. This is one amongst otlier reasons why no angler 

 should ever^ if he can avoid it, fish a strange river -without 

 a competent guide or keeper to point out the best pools 

 and most likely casts ; and when such a pool is reached, 

 every yard of it should be carefully and closely fished over, 

 if necessary with a change of flies, before it is quitted for 

 less certain finds. In some waters, such as the Tweed, the 

 minnow is occasionally more killing than the fliy *, and in 

 periods of summer droughts the worm is not unfrequently 

 a deadly bait. 



With the advance of the season the fish begin to gain 

 the upper and shallower reaches, or spawning-grounds ; and 

 at this time all the Salmon and Trout species resident in 

 fresh water, both migratory and non-migratory, acquire, in 

 lieu of their brilliant spring tints, a dusky-yellowish exte- 

 rior, accompanied by a considerable increase of mucus or 

 slime, — the fins also becoming more muscular. As the im- 

 portant operation approaches, these colours undergo a still 

 further deterioration, the general hue of the body in the 



* Bob-flies or Dboppees. — I may perhaps liere mention inci- 

 dentally a method of fastening drop-flies on Salmon casting-lines which 

 I have found very successful, and which, I believe, is not generally 

 known. The object sought to be attained is, of course, that the fly 

 should remain for the longest possible time standing clear from — in 

 fact, almost at right angles to — the line, with the least amount of knot- 

 ting or thickening, and the greatest facility for changing. To secure 

 the first, it is absolutel}' necessary that the casting-line should be 

 diffetied at the point of intersection. This is effected by joining there 

 two lengths of gut in a single Jisherman's-knot, leaving about half an 

 inch over at each end. The knot having been drawn straight and 

 close, these two ends should be lapped down to the line with a few 



