exertion to the wader. The
foothold for the man should be shingle or stones presenting a fairly
even bottom, sloping gradually from the edge, and enabling the
fisherman to operate comfortably with the water at his hips. Should he
have to venture deeper, the necessity of keeping the winch above water
requires a special strain upon the muscles, and this in time becomes
fatiguing. There is always, however, compensation in hooking a salmon
in this position, in which you have to hold your rod well up what time
you retire slowly to the _terra firma_ that is above water, carrying on
the action as you go.

A long pool of sufficient briskness to keep the fly in lively and
regular motion, a pool with varying depths and a sharp shallow at the
tail, a pool that will, let us say, take not less than half an hour to
fish down carefully, is what we should all perhaps choose if we could
do so; but even where the bottom is rough, and the angler, if he would
escape peril, must move with wary steps, where the stream is so out of
reach that it can only be properly worked in parts, and then with
difficulty--even this is better than fishing from a boat. I know of
nothing more delightful than wading such a pool at just the depth and
force of water which allows you to sit on it. Those who have not
indulged in this sensation may laugh at the idea of sitting on running
water, but it is quite possible, and many a time have I enjoyed this
utilisation of a current strong enough to support you as a seat.

The principal fishing must after all be from a boat. It must not be
supposed that the frail craft in Norway are to be compared with those
models of boats for casting which you have on Tweed or Tay. The
Norwegian boats have to be used upon water that is often both shallow
and swift, and must be dragged from place to place. It is not
comfortable to cast from such boats in a standing position. You cast
sitting, very much cramped, on the first thwart, with your back to the
oarsman. After a little practice you can get out quite as much line as
you require, and for myself I retained my seat in playing a fish.
There is no need to enumerate the drawbacks of casting from a boat;
suffice to say that there are always enough to prevent you from
becoming attached to the practice, save as an occasional change. I say
nothing of harling, which is a different matter; you can lounge at your
ease in the stern of the boat, with a book in your hand, and trai