SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 251 
I saw that the upper pool was occupied, and, as I thought, 
the middle pool also, as I saw a fisherman sitting dawn on the 
bank reading a newspaper and apparently resting himself after 
his labours. I passed down to opposite the lowest pool (which 
was also close to the road, but hidden from the two upper pools 
by an orchard) to see if it was occupied, and I saw what I took 
to be an angler with his fly stuck in a tree on the opposite 
bank, and the river watchers trying to free the line. I of course 
took it for granted that the pool was occupied, and passed on 
to look for a vacant pool lower down, and it was not until 
afterwards that I found out the trick that had been played upon 
me. The fact was that the man who was reading the paper on 
the bank at the middle pool, had been fishing it since eight 
o’clock blank, and as the lowest pool was a very good one, he 
thought it just possible he could go and fish it and return to 
the middle pool (which was by far the best in that part of the 
water) before any other fisherman appeared on the scene. So 
he went over in the boat, and while in the act of fishing the pool 
his fly got fast in the tree. ‘Oh, horror! what shall I do? the 
Major will take my pet pool before I can get back, and I shall 
be left out in the cold.’ However, a plan of action soon sug- 
gested itself, and he left his attendant with the rod, crossed 
back in the boat and adopted the vwse I have mentioned, of 
reading the newspaper in full sight of anyone who was driving 
on the road, making it appear he was dond fide in possession of 
the pool. The thing was so cleverly done that I could not be 
angry, although the laugh was against me. 
There is.as much luck in salmon fishing as in any other 
pursuit we are engaged in, and the most experienced angler 
will often be beaten by the veriest tyro. It is very trying to the 
temper of a man who ‘fancies himself, and who is going to 
teach all the world how to fish, to go home blank. The man 
who is lucky has no feeling of pity for his neighbour who has been 
unsuccessful, and, if the truth is known, often chuckles at his 
discomfiture, even though he should be his bosom friend. 
Not Iong ago I was fishing some private water I had rented 
