great sport I had in that river was in 1817, in the beginning of April. I caught, in two or three hours, at Merton, above four or five large salmon, and as many in the evening at Kelso-and one of them 25lbs. But this kind of fishing cannot be compared to the summer fishing: the fish play with much less energy, and in general are in bad season; and the fly used for fishing is almost like a bird-four or five times larger than the summer fly, and the coarsest tackle may be employed. I have heard that Lord Hone has sometimes taken thirty fish in a day, in spring fishing. About, and above, Melrose, I have taken, in a morning in July, two or three grilses; and in September the same number: and I have known eighteen taken earlier, by an excellent salmon fisher, at Merton; and the late Lord Somerville often took six or seven fish in a day's angling. The same, "fuit," I must apply to most of the Scotch rivers. Of the Tay I have The Dee I have never caught salmon in, though I have fished in two parts of it, but in bad seasons. In the already spoken. SCOTCH RIVERS. -- -TWEED. 125 Don I have seen salmon rise, and hooked one, but never killed a fish. In the Spey I enjoyed one of the best day's sport (perhaps the very best) I ever had in my life: it was in the beginning of September, in close time; the water was low, and as net fishing had been given over for some days, the lower parts were full of fish. By a privilege, which I owe to the late Duke of Gordon, I fished at this forbidden time, and hooked twelve or thirteen fish in one day. One was above 30 lbs. who broke me by the derangement of my reel. I landed seven or eight,-one above 20lbs. which gave me great play in the rapids above the bridge. I returned to the same spot in 1813, the year after; the river: was in excellent order, and it was the same time of the year, but just after a flood,-I caught nothing; the fish had all run up the river; the pools, where I had had such sport. the year before, were empty. I have fished there since, with a like result,--but this was before the 12th of August, the close day. In the Sutherland and Caithness rivers, many salmon, I have no doubt, may still be caught. The Brora, in 1813 and 1814, was an admirable river; I have often rode from the mansion of the princely and hospitable lord and lady of that county, after breakfast, and returned at two or three o'clock, having taken from three to eight salmon-several times eight. There were five pools below the wears of the Brora, which always cone tained fish; and one pool, which from its size was almost inexhaustible, at the top of which I have taken three or four salmon the same day. Another pool, nearer the sea, was almost equal to it; and at that time I should have placed the Brora above the Ewe for certainty of sport. When I fished: · there last, in 1817, the case was altered, and I caught only two or three fish in those places where I had six years before been so successful. In the Helmsdale there are some good pools, and I have caught fine fish there when the river has been high. I have fished in the river at Thurso, but without success-it was always foul when I made my essay. I have heard of a good salmon river in Lord Reay's country, the Laxford; its name, of Norwegian origin, would seem to be characteristic. Along the coast of Scotland, most of the streams, if taken at the right time, afford sport. The Ness, at Inverness, and the Arne and Lochy, I have fished in, but without success. I may say the same of the Ayr, and of the rivers which empty themselves into the Solway Frith. A little preserved stream, at Ardgowan, was formerly excellent, after a flood in September, for sea trout, and later for salmon: I have had good sport there, and some of my friends have had better. In Ireland there are some excellent rivers; and what you will hardly believe possible, comparing the characters of the two nations, some of them are taken better care of than the Scotch rivers; which arises a good deal from the influence of the Catholic priests, when they are concerned in the interests of the proprietors, or the Catholic peasantry. I should place the Erne, at Ballyshannon, as now the first river, for salmon fishing from the banks with a rod, in the British *Lar is the Teutonic word for salmon. dominions; and the excellent proprietor of it, Dr. Thiel, is liberal and courteous to all gentlemen fly fishers. The Moy, at Ballina, is likewise an admirable salmon river; and sport, I believe, may almost always be secured there in every state of the waters; but the best fishing can only be commanded by the use of a boat. I have taken in the Erne two or three large salmon in the morning; and in the Moy, three or four grilses, or, as they are called in Ireland, grauls; and this was in a very bad season for salmon fishing. The Bann, near Coleraine, abounds in salmon: but except in close time, when it is unlawful to fish there, there are few good casts in this river. In the Bush, a small river about seven miles to the east of the Bann, there is admirable salmon fishing always after great floods; but in fine and dry weather there is little use in trying this river. I have hooked twenty fish in a day, after the first August floods, in this river; and, should sport fail, the celebrated Giant's Causeway is within a mile of its mouth, and offers to the lovers of natural beauty, |