SEA TEOUT. 55 



believed. Sometimes they become a source of annoyance 

 to the nervous and excited fisherman, who having prepared 

 a seductive fly, is about to fish a favourite poo], and sees, 

 at his very first throw, five or six of these rush at it 

 furiously — in which case there is no alternative but to 

 change the fly and kill them all off — then you may fish in 

 peace for your salmon, but not till then. I confess, that 

 I ha.ve never found this to be any very great punishment. 

 I am fond of all sorts of fishing, and never could consider 

 it to be any great misfortune to have to hook and play 

 eight or ten beautiful fish, vying with molten silver in 

 their brightness, and varying in size from one pound to seven 

 pounds in weight, to say nothing of their flavour wlien 

 broiled for breakfast, all the time having the conviction 

 on my mind, that, as soon as I had done so, I should 

 in all probability kill two or three noble salmon in the 

 same pool. 



The best time for fishing for these beautiful fish is when 

 the tide is flowing, and the best place is at that part of the 

 stream where the salt water unites with the fresh ; they 

 come up with the tide into the stream, and continue to 

 roam and play about it in immense sculls, until the ebb 

 comes on, when they return into the salt water ; in the 

 meantime, however, they take with much avidity, and 

 afford most excellent sport if they are fished for with light 

 tackle. They are frequently accompanied in their ascent 



E 4 



