THE HIGHLANDS OF THE SWEDISH DIVIDE. 
263 
In September, the fish are falling off in condition. 
With the fall of the leaf, trout and char draw up into 
the gravelly shallows and soon cease to take the fly. 
Trolling is then the only method of fishing the lakes, 
and was practised daily in pulling across to our different 
hunting-grounds. But, to feed our retinue, we did not 
disdain the unworthy net. One day in mid-September, 
having set about a hundred and fifty yards, encircling 
the mouth of a river, afterwards rowing inside and 
splashing all over the enclosed space, we had a notable 
haul. Five species of fish were captured, as follows :— 
Trout , 18—the best exceeded 10 lbs., and several 
others weighed from 3 to 5 lbs. and upwards. 
Char , 11—running from 1 to 2 lbs. apiece. 
Grayling , 4—averaging 1 lb. 
Pike , 3—running from 2 to 5 lbs. 
The fifth species was a curious eel-like fish, pale 
sage-green, splashed with irregular dark blotches, 
having continuous fin-rays above and below, and a 
gristly beard. Its Norsk name was “ lake” and this 
specimen measured nearly a foot in length. It was 
probably a species of burbot. 
The orders for each day ran roughly as follows :—At 
3 a.m., coffee in bed. Breakfast half-an-hour later, more 
coffee, fish, elk-steak and ryper. Then each, with his 
hunter and hound, got away before daybreak, to return 
at quite uncertain hours. In the event of a kill, it 
might be by midday : otherwise, any time up to mid¬ 
night, though dinner'was fixed approximately for 8 p.m. 
This function, as already suggested, varied in quality. 
On fortunate days, rich red char, frizzling in butter, 
preceded a pile of elk-cutlets and split grouse, all mixed 
