A SALMON LOCH IN SUTHERLAND 121 
rod. Sandy allowed the boat to drift slowly 
along the edge of some weeds. I do not think 
that I had more than three or four casts when, 
just as I was nearing the end of my cast, a salmon, 
which looked as bright as silver, and about the 
same size as the one we had just killed, rose at 
my tail fly, with a head and tail rise as if it meant 
business ; and, as it turned to go down, I felt 
the hook go home. The fish did not run, but 
worked about near the surface of the water, close 
to the weeds, as if it did not realise that it was 
hooked at all. " Back the boat quickly, sir," 
said Sandy, handing the oars to my brother, and 
seizing the gaff. My brother took the oars and 
backed the boat quickly in the direction of the 
fish. I reeled up my line ; there was a momentary 
vision of about three-quarters of Sandy leaning 
out of the boat, a tremendously quick lightning- 
like movement of the gaff, and the salmon, gaff'ed 
with extraordinary skill behind the shoulder, was 
in the boat. 
I do not think that more than four minutes 
could possibly have elapsed from the time that 
I hooked the fish to the time it was in the boat. 
It was a beautiful, clean -run female fish, with 
a small head, and in perfect condition. It was 
16 
