194 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



begin to fall, throughout the whole winter. They 

 will also bite till June. The best fishing is 

 certainly, however, in the winter, in the deep 

 water, through a hole cut in the ice. The hook in 

 use is covered on the shank with bright lead, in 

 the form of a small fish, and although sometimes 

 no bait is used, a little piece of fat pork stuck on 

 the point of the hook is a very good bait. I do 

 not believe a fly was ever cast or a bait spun in 

 these waters ; but I should say both would answer, 

 if you could only hit on the right pattern. The 

 charr in these lakes are not unfrequently taken up 

 to 51b. ; seldom larger. 



About two we were joined by the rest of our 

 party; and camping on a beautiful rise by the 

 side of a small trout- stream, we "spread our 

 table-cloth." Butter, bread, milk, and potatoes 

 we procured from a neighbouring peasant, and we 

 made a splendid dinner off fried charr and " cham- 

 bertin;" for our host (who is not above enjoying 

 the good things of this life) keeps a small cellar, 

 and of a good vintage, too, at one of his keepers' 

 houses. Thus we enjoyed two luxuries in the 

 forest which many a bon vivant might envy. I 

 never tasted such fish as these charr — far richer 

 than salmon, and the flesh blood-red. We went 

 home that night ; and none of us were sorry to 

 turn in between clean sheets. 



