The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-25 00:00:00

A STRUGGLE WITH A LABRADOR SALMON.

After waiting for many minutes, trusting that my foe
would change his mind and his quarters, I became impa-
tient, and, believing my tackle to bo good, put on a little
extra purchase ; this ruse was successful, for with astound-
ing velocity the fish started down stream for parts un-
known, at such a gait that even the invincible Kentucky
would have adreired. The reel fairly screetched, and instead
of the well-made sonorous click being heard, a discordant
screech was its utterance. Close on 100 yards of -lino
rushed through the heated rings before he slackened up,
and good 20 yards more I had followed his course; at the
end of this dash he broke water splendidly, causing the
spray to fly for many feet around. Again and egein his
argentine flanks reflected in brilliant radii the sunlight,
and at each glil>cruing reflection of the solar rays, I feared
that we should part company without the most remote
chance of furthe'r cl.)ser renewing our -acquaintance. For-
tune and goid tackle, however, favouiecl me, and I had the
satisfaction of feeling him head for the source of the river
and probable birthVace of himself and relations. With the
greatest satisfaction I took in yard after yard, my hopes
rising as the body of my reel expanded; at length I saw
the loop which attached the lino to leader, and
the sight caused me more satisfaction than one
could imagine possible who is daily engaged 'in the
ordinary pursuits of life. Oh, salmon fishing, what
pleasure have I enjoyed following this peaceful pursuit;
what ecstacy, what ecstatic bliss; would that I had the
pen of the most fluent writer, or tongue of the most elo-
quent spokesman; I could do you more justice, but still, I
doubt if it is in the power of words to mete to you an iota
of the laudation and praise your fascinations so eminently
deserve.

Why wander from facts? Simply because I cannot help
it, but if I must be called back from the enchantment of
scenes which may never return, bear with me for a mo-
ment, it is but the alloted time for a breather between the
heats, the welcome respite before the final burst that is to
terminate the race. So it was in this instance; the strength,
if not the courage of the regal foe, was weaker, each suc-
ceeding effort becoming less powerful. Many a yard of
line was again run out and safely restored to its resting-
place. Up and down both immolator ani victim traced
and retraced their course; the one fearing to pursue, the
other momentarily becoming more unfit.- Time did its
work, and as in all things b:-ought the last scene to a
close. A shoal bank of gravel lay at my feet, and giving
my fish the butt I drew him in towards Crosby, who,
ankle deep, stood beneath mo in the cool, clear water, and
struck the gaff into the spotless silver side, and landed him
with the adroitness of one who had served a long appren-
ticeship to the trade. Don't be led away to believe that
there is no science in handling a gaff; for one expert
many muffs will be found. Why, then, you may ask, did
this sailor learn so difficult a business in so short a space ?
Probably because he had a natural aptness, or, more
likely, being a sailor he could turn his hands much
sooner than persons of any other trade to a business which
required coolness and dexterity.

This fish.weighed over 18 pounds, was fresh run from
the sea, for he had not yet had time to divest himself of the
sea lice ; his breadth and depth were enormous in propor-
tion to his length, the best proof of condition. In his cap-
ture, from the time, he was struck till I had him flounder-
ing on the bank, fully 40 minutes elapsed, having looked
at my watch previous to making the first cast at the head
of the pool.
On examining my tackle I found that it had considerably
suffered, particularly the fly, which not only had one of the
hackles broken, but the tinsel. I therefore stuck it care-
fully in the crown of my hat and replaced it with another,
intending that evening, when comfortably seated in our
snug cabin, to bring my pliers, scissors, vice, &c., into play,
and construct its counterpart, being well satisfied that the
combination of colour which in previous exploits had done
me good service was going again to successfully execute
and further establish its reputation. The upper portion, and
the only part I had so far fished was now well rested, and
while resting myself preparatory to making a third essay,
several noble fish broke water in the immediate vicinity
of where I had hooked both of my trophies. From what
I had already seen I was convinced that magnificent sport
was before us, and that I had at last arrived in the land of
plenty—of salmon. This was a satisfaction in knowing
this, a feeling I will not attempt to describe, a grati-
fication of a longing long felt, but never expected to
be realised. Fancy, brother fishermen, having salmon
as plenty as trout in a good trout stream. In 10 casts I had
three rises, out of which I had hooked and killed two, and
my friend across the water had also been busy, possibly
five salmon taken out of one pool and that within an hour and
a half. Ye lords and commoners, who pay enormous ren-
tals for salmon rivers across the Atlantic, can you, with all
the paraphernalia that a London fishing tackle establish-
ment can supply, with all the attendance and accessories
that wealth can purchase, show a finer record ? Truly, I
doubt if it is possible. Again I commenced at the head of
the pool, and slowly progressed downwards; one fish I
stirred, but on a second time casting over him, he refused
to put in an appearance. Step after step I descended, and
when not over ten yards below where I had hooked my
first fish I struck another ; but alas ! the hook did not hold
—a few spasmodic struggles and ho was free. I was too slow
in striking I attribute as the cause, for at the moment I had
observed a minx standing on a stone watching my proceed-
ings with curious eye, no doubt wondering what kind of
creature his optics, possibly for the first time, rested on.
Of one thing lam certain, you cannot be too quick in
striking when fishing for salmon; they coma up from be-
neath mouth open, and, if so disposed, seize the lure on the
ascent, but, if in playful mood, and not inclined to soil
their dainty lips, out of a spirit of mischief or play they
will occasionally throw themselves on the fly as if to drown
or crush the parti. coloured device. Many is the good fish
that has been hooked when practising this amusement, and
if the bait should fasten low down, particularly beneaththe
vent or dorsal fin, the strongest tackle and the most per-
fect skill will often fail to bring them on terra firma.—
The Turf, Field, and Farm.

SIR WILLIAM SNOW HARRIS, F.R.S.—We regret
to announce the death of another of those eminent scien-
tific experimentalists and discoverers of whom the present
age has been so prolific. Sir William. Snow Harris, uni-
versally known as the inventor of the only safe method of
lightning conductors, was born at Plymouth in 1792, and
was of humble origin. He was elucated at the Plymouth
Grammar School, and at the University of Edinburgh for
the medical profession, which he practised for several years
with considerable success, but his whole heart and soul be-
ing in the physical sciences, ho abandoned his practice in
order to devote himself entirely to the study of the ele-
mentary laws of electricity and magnetism. The eminence
to which he attained is sufficient evidence of his natural
talent and of his patience and perseverance in scientific re-
search. In 1820 he first discovered his mode of conducting
lightning discharges by moans of broad copper plates, and
his writings soon attracted much attention. In 1831 ho was
admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society, upon the ground
of scientific merit, having contributed at different times
some valuable philosophic papers, which were presented to
the society by if Humphrey Davy and Mr. Davies Gilbert.
In 1835 the society awarded him the Copeloy medal, one
of the highest honours in its gift, and which for upwards
of 100 years has been awarded to the authors of bril-
liant discoveries. In 1839 his " Inquiries Concerning
the Elementary Laws of Electricity," third series, were
printed in the Philosophical Transactions as the " Bakerian
Lecture," and earned the bequest of Mr., Henry Baker,
F.R.S. In 1841 her Majesty was pleased to confer upon him
an annuity from the Civil List of £3OO, "in consideration
of his merviees in the cultivation of science." The pension
was not granted him, as some have erroneously supposed,
for his invention of lightning conductors, Lord Mel-
bourne, through whom the communication of the Royal
wishes passed, having guarded carefully against any con-
struction of that hind being put upon this gracious act,
for although Snow Harris's system of lightning conductors
had been before the public ever since 1820, and had been
pronounced by a mixed naval and scientific commission
appointed in 1839 to investigate and report on lightning
conductors for ships to be " superior to all others," and
was "earnestly recommended to be generally adopted into
the Royal navy, it, nevertheless, had not been adopted in
1841. In fact, it was not until the year 1843, after every
conceivable opposition to it arising from interest, prejudices,
superstition, and ignorance had been ercountored and van-
quished that it was at last ordered to be universally em-
ployed in her Majesty's ships. The value of the inven-
tion will be instantly appreciated when we state that loss
or damage by lightning in the Royal navy has been since
that time absolutely unknown,while previously the material
damage alone had been estimated at £lO,OOO per annum, to '
say nothing of the loss of life and of the services of ships
of war obliged to undergo repairs at critical periods on
foreign stations. With the light lately thrown on cases of
this kind by the history of Mr. Snider, it will readily be
believed that Mr. Snow Harris experienced the greatest
possible difficulty in obtaining any solid recompense from
the Government for his mast valuable invention, toperfect
which he had sacrificed his profession, and devoted all his
energies for many years, although he had placed it without
reservation at the public service. It is true that in 1847 the
honour of knighthood was conferred on him, and he had
on several occasions been honourably mentioned in both
Houses of Parliament, but upwards of ten years were
allowed to pass before any grant was made to him. In
1832 he was appointed scientific referee of Government
in all matters connected with electricity, and in this capa-
city had to superintend the fitting of his conductors to the
Royal Palaces, the Houses of Parliament, the powder maga-
zines, and other important public buildings, the very last
upon which he was personally engaged being the Royal
Mausoleum at Frogmore, in which are deposited the re-
mains of the late Prince Consort. Sir W. Snow Harris is
also the inventor of an improved mariner's compass, of
another method of lightning conductors for iron ships, now
being applied to our fleet of ironclads, and is the author of
many interesting treatises on electricity, thunderstorms,
and electro-magnetism. Up to the time of his death he
was engaged in preparing a work ou "Electricity in Theory
and Practice."