ROUTIEDGE'S COUNTRY BOOKS. p3 i SALMON ANf D SEA TROUT THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES W. J. CUMMINS, North of England Works, BISHOP AUCKLAND, ANGLO-AMERICAN SPLIT CANE RODS. 13 feet -500 Best Bronzed Ferrules 14 - 5 5 O and Fittings, Bayonet 15 - 6 6 Joints, Cork Handle, Two 16 - 7 7 Tops. 17 GUARANTEED FOR -880 TWO YEARS. 18 -990 " EDWARD KENNARD, Esq., says : I am delighted with the the has stood hard work ii has been way Anglo-American ; subjected to the greatest possible strain in very long casting in all weathers, and has killed all my fish this season." Send 4d. for finest Catalogue of Tackle published. 6, LITTLE & GO,, FISHING TACKLE MAKERS, 63 Haymarket, London, S.W. SPECIALITIES FOR SALMON FISMING. Major Cumberland's Patent Brake for Salmon Reels. Used with great success in NORWAY, SCOTLAND, FINLAND, <fec. Salmon Casts tested. Salmon Flies, &c. Write for full Illustrated Catalogue, sent post free to any address. Telegraphic Address: "TROUTING, LONDON." ESTABLISHED OVER 20 YEARS. Every Purchaser of the FISHING GAZETTE is INSURED against Accident w/ii/e Travailing on a A'aihvay, also in case of d'ath from Dr<nvning. THE FISHING GAZETTE A JOURNAL FOR ANGLERS. Edited by R. B. MARSTON, Hon. Treasurer of the Fly Fishers' Club, &c. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, PRICE 2d. Subscription, 10s. 6d. per Annum. The GAZETTE contains every week Original Articles on Angling of every kind. The Paper has recently been much enlarged and improved, and Illus- trati .ns appear nearly every week. ''Under the editorship of Mr. R. B. Marston the Gazette has attained a high standing." -Daily News. "An excellent paper." The World. London : SAMPSON Low, MARSTON, and Co., Ltd., St. Dunstan's House, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street. Can be obtained through all Bookstalls and Newsagents. List of Books on Angling sent on application. HOLBROW & CO. MANUFACTURERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION FIRST-CLASS TACKLE. Salmon and Sea Trout Flies a Speciality, 40 DUKE STREET, St. James's, London, S.W. She Bugler's Xtbran? EDITED BY THE RIGHT HON. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL, BART. AND F. G. AFLALO IV SALMON AND SEA TROUT BY THE RIGHT HON. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL, BART. M.P., F.R.S. SALMON AND SEA TROUT HOW TO PROPAGATE, PRESERVE, AND CATCH THEM IN BRITISH WATERS BY THE RIGHT HON. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL, BART. M.P., F.R.S. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MRS. GRAHAM-MOIR, E. F. T. BENNETT, THE AUTHOR, AND OTHERS LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, LIMITED NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. ICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND BUNGAV, SUFFOLK. PREFACE IN preparing this volume on salmon and sea trout fishing, the editors have kept in view the purpose rather to present the experience of a practical angler, and the conclusions founded there- on, than to retail the precepts and instructions prescribed by other writers. Every statement in this book every article in equipment described every pattern of fly described is given, except where otherwise specified, on the author's actual knowledge of them, and every theory suggested is founded on personal observation. Quotations have been admitted only where they tend to corroborate the views put forward, not from any disrespect to those who hold other opinions, but to avoid swelling the volume beyond a convenient size. It has been a matter of careful consideration how far mention should be made of the goods supplied by various tradesmen, and whether it was desirable to reproduce explanatory figures from trade catalogues. On the first point we have decided that, in- asmuch as an is use material angler 908743unable q vi PREFACE supplied by all the excellent manufacturers, nO- thing invidious is implied by his naming those whose tackle has done him good service, and that it would be unsatisfactory if readers were not directed to establishments where they are sure to get the best quality of goods, although there are many other tradesmen able and ready to supply them of equal excellence. The second point was more difficult to decide. It must be admitted that there is a certain weari- ness in recognising the same cuts in one angling work after another. On the other hand, we hope that our readers will not consist entirely of experts, but that neophytes will turn to our pages for instruction in outfit, as well as other matters. To those it cannot but be convenient to have illustra- tions of the various articles recommended, enabling them to dispense with reading many superfluous pages of description. The author desires to record his sense of obliga- tion to many persons who have assisted him by Correspondence or by the loan of woodcuts. Among the former are Lieut.-Col. Haig, C.M.G., of Bemersyde, Captain Ernest Pretyman, M.P., and Mr. Archer, Inspector of Salmon Fisheries in Scotland; 1 while the latter include Mr. Horace 1 Since this was written, Scotland has lost the invaluable services of Mr. Walter Archer, who has been appointed Inspector of Salmon Fisheries in England. PRfcFACfc vii Cox, who has permitted the use of certain illustra- tions from Dr. Day's British and Irish Salinonida; Messrs. W. Clowes and Son, who lent some cuts from their Fisheries Exhibition Literature; Messrs. Farlow and Co., Messrs. Hardy of Alnwick, Mr. Roderick Anderson of Edinburgh, and Messrs. Hutchinson of Kendal, who furnished illustrations and specimens of tackle, hooks, &c. Among those amateurs who have assisted with the camera, grateful acknowledgment must be made to the Hon. Mrs. Farquhar, Lady Maxwell, Mr. H. McMaster, and the Rev. Sir D. O. Hunter Blair. H. E. M. F. G. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE PRESENT CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF SALMON ANGLING IN GREAT BRITAIN I CHAPTER II EQUIPMENT 24 CHAPTER III THE ART OF SALMON-FISHING 70 CHAPTER IV KILLING A SALMON 94 CHAPTER V SALMON FLIES Ill CHAPTER VI SALMON FLIES (continued) 143 CHAPTER VII FLY-DRESSING , 173 * CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER VIII .SALMON-TROUT FISHING 1 93 CHAPTER IX NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SALMON 2IO CHAPTER X THE REPRODUCTION OF SALMON NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL 234 APPENDIX A 257 APPENDIX B . 258 APPENDIX C 260 APPENDIX D 264 INDEX 269 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE ESTUARY OF THE TWEED . 9 UPPER COLLOONEY FALL AND LADDER 17 TORRISH, HELMSDALE to face page l8 PLAN AND SECTION OF UPPER COLLOONEY LADDER . 19 HARDY'S PATENT LOCKFAST JOINT 31 MR. R. ANDERSON'S PATENT CAPPED FERRULE .... 32 SECTIONS OF DOUBLE AND SINGLE BUILDING .... 34 STEEL CENTRED SPLIT CANE 35 STEEL UPRIGHT ROD RINGS 36 FARLOW'S PATENT LEVER SALMON REEL 36 " " HARDY'S PATENT PERFECT REEL ........ 37 REEL CASE 38 FARLOW'S COLLAPSIBLE LINE DRIER 41 SINGLE FISHERMAN'S KNOT 44 DOUBLE FISHERMAN'S KNOT 44 HOOKS AND KNOTS 47 THE SNECK BEND 48 THE KIRBY BEND 48 THE LIMERICK "RATIONAL" SCALE . to face page 49 THE ROUND BEND 49 THE SPROAT BEND 51 HARDY'S DOUBLE BARBED HOOKS 53 THE PENNELL BEND 54 THE "BICKERDYKE" DOUBLE-HOOK SALMON FLY . 55 THE "MAXWELL" GAFF 58 LANDING SNARE 6l OAK FLY CABIN.ET 62 MALLOCH'S PATENT FLY BOX 63 " " RHOADES' SAFETY CAST BOX 63 xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE " PRIEST," FOR KILLING FISH 65 "USK" SALMON. BASKET 65 PIGALL'S " NOVELTY " KNIFE 66 MR. HARDY, OF ALNWICK, MAKING OVERHAND CAST . 70 A SPORTING RISE to face page 96 WRONG WAY TO GIVE THE BUTT 103 RIGHT WAY TO GIVE THE BUTT IO4 POSITION OF A SULKING SALMON, BY E. F. T. BENNETT . Io6 ON THE TWEED AT MERTOUN IIO COLOURED FLIES : PLATE I toface page 118 " " THE ORIGINAL JOCK SCOTT 123 COLOURED FLIES : PLATE II toface page 148 COLOURED FLIES : PLATE in to face page 1 60 COLOURED FLIES : PLATE iv to face page 170 THE PARTS OF A SALMON FLY ... 176 STILETTO -177 STEEL HACKLE HOLDER 178 WIRE HACKLE HOLDER 178 . HACKLE IN FIRST STAGE OF PREPARATION 179 HACKLE IN SECOND STAGE OF PREPARATION .... 179 FIRST STAGES OF SALMON-FLY 184 RIGHT AND LEFT FIBRED FEATHERS 187 FLY-DRESSING SCISSORS 19 1 MR. PENNELL'S SEA-TROUT FLY 2OO SEA-TROUT FLIES BY MESSRS. HARDY, BROS 2OO THE ASCENT 2IO SECTION OF TWO CAUDAL VERTEBRAE OF A SALMON . 214 ABDOMINAL VERTEBRA OF SALMON . 214 HIND END OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN OF A SALMON . 215 CAUDAL FIN OF A SEA-TROUT, EXPANDED HALF AND TWO-THIRDS 215 SALMON LEAPING AT A FALL,) . f . ' ' ' *<> face page 1tt BY E. F. T. BENNETT / MALE SALMON IN THE BREEDING SEASON 235 ARRANGEMENT OF HATCHING BOXES 240 GLASS GRILLES TO RECEIVE SPAWN 241 POND FORMED BY DIVERSION OF STREAM 244 POND FORMED BY LEAD FROM RIVER 245 DETACHED OVA 247 EYED OVA 249 ALEV1NS OR LARVAL SALMON 250 THROUGH THE RAPIDS 255 SALMON AND SEA-TROUT CHAPTER I THE PRESENT CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF SALMON ANGLING IN GREAT BRITAIN So many and various are the views entertained by salmon-anglers, that it would be easy to com- pose a long treatise on their craft, consisting entirely of contradiction of the statements made, and refutation of the theories propounded, by different writers. It is scarcely necessary to say that no such attempt will be made in the following pages. On those points where the results of a tolerably long experience of many rivers has brought the author into disagreement with the opinions of others, the same will be expressed by him with the utmost respect for those from whom he has the misfortune to differ, although he may feel it his duty to show how little evidence there seems to be in support of certain doctrines very commonly maintained by salmon-fishers.