164 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



The ambition of every guest at Gordon Castle is " to get into 

 the smoking-room," for there on the walls are hung casts or models 

 of all fish of 40 lb. or over, together with the date, the pool, and the 

 name of the lucky captor. Although the mere hooking of a big 

 fish is a matter of luck, the eventual landing of it requires extra 

 nerve and care, and whether fisherman or fish will be victor usually 

 remains in doubt right up to the end of the fight. Many an angler 

 may be seen puffing his pipe, talking and joking while he plays a 

 twenty-pounder, who will be mute, nervous, and " all to pieces " 

 while he plays a very big one, for he realises that the chance of his 

 angling life has come at last, and anxiety for the result may under- 

 mine the judgment and quick decision usually displayed when in 

 a difficulty. Small wonder, then, that Gordon Castle visitors are 

 keen to get a smoking-room fish, for up to the present there are but 

 nine winners of this Gordon Castle Cross, though there are many 

 who have provokingly just missed it by a pound or two. Lord 

 Leconfield was the first to gain a place in the room, as on the 6th 

 of October 188S he had exactly a forty-pounder from the Lower 

 Bulwark. In i88g the Duke of Richmond joined him with one of 

 45 lb. from Chapel Pool on the 5th of October ; and six days later 

 lucky Lord Leconfield made his second appearance with a fish of 

 just the same weight as the Duke's, and also from the same pool. 

 Then for three years there is a blank, until, in 1892, Lord Winterton 

 makes his appearance on the nth of October with a fish of 50 lb. 

 from the Rock Pool. Next, in 1894, there is a double event recorded 

 on the 6th of October, Lord March getting one of 44 lb. from the 

 Raik, and Mr. F. V. Mildmay one of 42 lb. from Lord Algernon's 

 Pool. On the 4th of October 1897, Mr. W. G. Craven makes his 

 entry with one of 33 lb. from Dallachy Pool. On the 5th he was 

 followed by one of 42 lb. from Stynie, caught by fortunate Mrs. 

 Arthur Sassoon — up to the present the only lady who has gained a 

 footing in the smoking-room, although there are many other good 

 fisherwomen both in the Duke's family and amongst his guests. 

 Then on the 12th of the same month Lord Algernon Gordon- 

 Lennox puts in an appearance with one of 44 lb. from the Railway 

 Arch. In the room there is also a monster of 60 lb. taken by the 

 Upper Bulwark net on the 26th of August 1894. These models 

 of big fish are very cleverly done ; one John TuUy, carpenter, cuts 

 out the wooden patterns, which are afterwards painted in a most 

 lifehke manner by Miss Russell, both artists residing at Fochabers. ^ 



The true Spey fly, like the Spey cast, differs from all others. 

 The natives place much faith in the tinsel used, and it is common 

 enough to hear one ghiUie say to another after a study of the clouds 

 and the light and the river, " Well, Fm just thinking it will be a 

 ' gold day,' " or a " silver day," according to his observations. 



The Spey flies are now dressed by most of the tackle makers, 

 and nearly all are hackled with the Spey cock— a big, long, non- 



1 As this was written ten years ago, there arc now man)- other names to 

 tie added to this Ust, 



