fish, without the necessity of supposing them distinct species. I remember many years ago, the first time I ever fished for salmon in spring in the Tweed, I caught with the fly, one fine morning in March, two fish nearly of the same length one was a male of the last season, that had lost its melt; the other a female fresh from the sea. They were so unlike, that they did not appear of the same species: the spent or kipper salmon was long and lean, showing an immense head, spotted all over with black and brown spots, and the belly almost black; the other bright and silvery, without spots, and the head small. Even the pectoral and anal fins had more spines in the newly run fish, some of the smaller ones having been probably rubbed off in spawning by the other. I would not for some time, till assured by an experienced fisherman, believe, that the spent fish was a salmon; and when their flesh was compared on the table, one was white, flabby, and bad, and without curd; the other of the brightest pink, and full of dense curd. Then, though of the same length, one weighed only 4lbs., the other 9 1-2lbs. When it is recollected, that different salmon and sea trout spawn at different times in the same river, and that fish of the

same year, being born at different seasons, from Christmas to Lady-day, and having migrated to the sea in spring-run up the rivers of all sizes in summer and autumn-the young salmon from 2 to 10lbs. in weight, the young sea trout from 1-2 to 3lbs. in weight—it is not difficult to account for the variety of names given by casual observers to individuals of these two species. But I must not forget my promise of sending a fish to the Highlander, with whose sport we have interfered. There is a good salmon, which shall be taken to him immediately, and for which I shall pay the taxman his usual price of 5d. per pound.

FIFTH DAY.

HALIEUS-POIETES-ORNITHER--PHYSICUS.

MORNING.

HAL.-WELL, is your tackle all ready? It is a fine fresh and cloudy morning, with a gentle breeze a day made for salmon fishing.

[They proceed to the river.]

HAL.-Now, my friends, I give up the two best pools to you till one o'clock; and I shall amuse myself above and below-probably with trout fishing. As there is a promise of a mixed day, with-what is rare in this country-a good deal of sunshine, I will examine your flies a little, and point out those I think likely to be useful; or rather, I will show you my flies, and, as you all have duplicates of them, you can each select the fly which I point out, and place in it a part of the book where it may

easily be found. First: when the cloud is on, I advise the use of one of these three golden twisted flies, with silk bodies, orange, red and pale blue, with red, orange, and gray hackle, golden pheasant's hackle for tail, and kingfisher's blue and golden pheasant's brown hackle under the wing; beginning with the brightest fly, and changing to the darker one. Should the clouds disappear, and it become bright, change your flies for darker ones, of which I will point out three :—a fly with a brown body and a red cock's hackle, one with a dun body and black hackle and light wing, and one with a black body, a hackle of the same colour, and a brown mallard's wing. All these flies have, you see, silver twist round their bodies, and all kingfisher's feather under the wing, and golden pheasant's feather for the tail. For the size of your flies, I recommend the medium size, as the water is small today; but trying all sizes, from the butterfly size of a hook of half an inch in width, to one of a quarter. Now, Physicus, cast your orange fly into that rapid at the top of the pool; I saw a large fish run there this moment. You fish well, were common trout your object; but, in salmon fishing, you must alter your manner

of moving the fly. It must not float quietly down the water; you must allow it to sink a little, and then pull it back by a gentle jerknot raising it out of the water, and then let it sink again, till it has been shown in motion, a lttle below the surface, in every part of your That is right, he has risen.

cast.

PHYS.-I hold him. He is a noble fish! HAL. He is a large grilse, I see by his play; or a young salmon, of the earliest born this spring. Hold him tight; he will fight hard.

PHYS.-There! he springs out of the water! Once, twice, thrice, four times! He is a merry one!

HAL.-He runs against the stream, and will soon be tired, but do not hurry him. Pull hard now, to prevent him from running round that stone. He comes in. I will gaff him for you. I have him! A goodly fish of this tide. But see, Poietes has a larger fish at the bottom of the great pool, and is carried down by him almost to the sea.

POIET. I cannot hold him! He has run out all my line.

HAL.-I see him: he is hooked foul, and I fear we shall never recover him, for he is going