to in the months of August and September-at this time there are some sea trout, a good many about three-quarters of a pound, and although there are salmon, which are fished for very assiduously, I never saw one taken by the rod the whole time I was here. There is a net fishing at the bridge of the Caldron-Pont-y-pain,— about two miles up the river, and, after a flood, they occasionally take two or three of a morning, below the salmon leap, beneath the bridge. I was told there are often large fish here late in the year. You are obliged to pay about 8s. per day for your fishing. I declined to do so till I saw some others get sport-this, however, was so meagre, that I did not put up my salmon rod, and, even when I went a good way up the river, I could make little of the trout. I also tried other rivers in the vicinity, Llugwy, etc., and had no better success—one is much amused by seeing all the appendages of a salmon fisher -rod, flies twisted round the hat, wading boots and gaff, borne along by many a fine youth; but, in the evening, it was generally all in vain. The scenery all about this part is well worth notice, and it seems a favourite place of resort for artists, who are found ensconced in every

corner where there is an interesting view to be obtained. There is also a lake up among the hills, about three miles from this, where the salmo-ferox is sometimes caught; but, although I tried it twice, with all kinds of flies and partail, I could not even obtain a rise or an offer. At the Waterloo Inn (William's), near the Iron Bridge of the same name, you can have good quarters as a fishing place, and at moderate charges. The Falls of the Conway and the Swallow Falls, are interesting. The proprietor is Lord Willoughby dé Eresby.

The Ahr

(GERMANY).

This river, the valley of which is so celebrated for its picturesque scenery, is about eighteen miles from Bonn, on the Rhine. The finest part of it is, certainly, at a small village, Altenahr, situated quite close to the river, the rocks from its sides rise in some places nearly 300 feet perpendicularly-the view from the old castle-the turnings and windings of the river make it altogether a most interesting place.

The people are mostly in humble circumstances of life, living by the cultivation of the vine. The valley of the Ahr being far-famed for the rich Ahrweiler wine, which place lies farther down, towards the Rhine. I wished much to try this stream, having brought reels and flies, but no rod, never doubting, that in a place like Bonn, I could easily procure one. In this I was woefully disappointed. All I could find was a very sorry one, at a perfumer's; it might have been said to resemble Aaron's rod (though only a walking-stick), for it had swallowed up all the others of its kind in the place; so, after a deal of tying and fixing, I succeeded in putting it together; but, at almost every throw, it went out at the ferrules, which were only made to hold together after the wood swelled by moisture. I found lots of grayling, and the river did not run heavier than the Gala, at Stow. They took the fly freely; but I never liked this fish, they bleed so at the mouth when hooked. Seeing there were trout, I began next day, and was surprised when I took two or three smolts. I soon, therefore, had partail; and I killed, in the rapid places, trouts of 3 lbs., and also other kinds of fish. We were much amused at seeing some of the villagers

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turning out to see us fishing with the rod and line—a thing seldom witnessed by them,―their usual mode of doing so is by net, or trap rather, which they set in different runs of the river. It reminded me very much of the Welsh rivers; no doubt, exposed to great spates and overfloodings. After heavy rains, it was also difficult, as in Wales, to get at places, from stone embankments, toward which the stream often ran deeply. This was in the month of August. On returning to the inn, we learned that in October and November large salmon came up from the Rhine, and that they took them by the spear, etc.; and they said that the fishing was good in spring time. The inn was a very good one in 1857,-a good large room below, although the bed-rooms had little comfort; and I learned that the expenses here were moderate, if you agreed for a time. It is, altogether, a most delightful country; and, we were told, that better streams and rivers were eight or nine miles further off; but, not being well accoutred, we did not think it wise to visit them.

Norway.

Those who have visited this country have given me no great idea of their doings; and the accommodation is only 'tolerable, and not to be endured;' bad beds and bad living, boatmen, and great rough water, yarn lines like ropes, and large flies. I have read of great things here; but, although I have spoken to many gentlemen who have fished, they never gave me such a description, that I much desired to follow. Sir John Lees read me the other day part of a letter, giving an account of a gentleman who hooked a salmon in one of its rivers at five o'clock in the evening, and, after working it all night, was so worn out at six o'clock next morning, he was quite done out, that he gave his rod to a friend, who lost the fish in five minutes!

Now, as a general rule (and to know when to follow them, and when to depart from them), for salmon, doubtless, the angler's highest sport, as showing his dexterity, you are to cast your line 'fine and far off,' and always at a great angle, and as far to the other side as you possibly can throw, so as to let your fly sweep round, as he, in most