SPAIN, FEAIvrCE AND POETUGAL 



be remembered. Indeed, all the south coast reminded me of 

 California. On the north coast is the Nalon, and there are 

 countless rivers, as the Orbigo, Cares, Mimho and Navia, which 

 rise in the Caribbean mountains, and abound in trout. 



Santander is an interesting province on the Anson, The 

 angler may make Ms headquarters at the little town of Ampuero, 

 which Mr. Walker M. Galhchan, an English author and angler, 

 owns by right of angling discovery, as here one day in early 

 spring, he astonished the natives by taking samlet and many 

 trout with a fly, and hooked a two pounder. That it is an attrac- 

 tive water is evident from the fact that he compares it to the 

 Tare, which I have fished for grayling ; and which seemed, to 

 me, at least, near Alburgh Hall, the home of my host, a most 

 beautiful river. ' The average weight of the trout in the 

 Anson,' says Mr. GalUchan, ' is one-half pound ; but the strength 

 and gameness of the fish are astonishing, and I would rather 

 catch these lively half pounders than fish double their weight in 

 certain English and Welsh rivers.' 



The Anson would be a good salmon stream were it not for the 

 netting in its pools, and the fact that the Alcalde of Gibaja, who 

 owned the salmon rights, sold them at auction at one time, hence 

 the fish are ruthlessly slaughtered. Medium-sized blue dun, 

 partridge and green flies are very taking on the beautiful river, 

 with its quaint and primitive Basques, as yet unspoilt. This 

 river is famed for its sea-trout, possibly steelhead or sea run of 

 the brown trout. The best season is in March, while the salmon 

 are most plentiful in the sunomer and the brook trout in February. 

 Other good Spanish trout streams are the Besaya in the 

 province of Santander, with the town of Torrelavega as a base 

 and the Pas, where at Eenedo, one can find good service. The 

 angler who has fished in Colorado will find a counterpart here 

 in climatic curiosities, as the rivers are liable to sudden and 

 extraordinary rises, due to a rain up on the divide or in the 

 mountains. In all the north of Spain in early spring, the angler 

 may expect changes, and sudden showers, and should go pre- 



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