Part 33 (1/2)

The case of the Spanish trout as it stands to-day is su letter, dated April 1910, from our friend Capt F J

Mitchell:--

I have tried a great many of the best rivers in northern Spain, and have co purposes they have been hopelessly ruined--by dynas There may be deep pools here and there where fish have escaped, but they are very few If your book is not finished you can put this in, as it is accurate, and may save many a disappointment to the free fisherman

Farther south, in Leon and northern Estreon, for example, with its tributaries, is well adapted for trout--dashi+ng streams with alternate stretches of pool and rapid These still hold trout in their head-waters a the h extirpated

In this region one frequently observes, not without surprise, evidence of the introduction and acclimatisation of exotic products by old-time Moors--often in most outlandish nooks, wherever their keen eyes had spotted soetic race would have preserved and cultivated the trout! The success of such enterprise in New Zealand and South Africa (it is even pro to succeed under the Equator in BE Africa), and indeed in Spain itself (at Algeciras), attests how easily these Iberian waters ht be endoith a new interest and a new value

Such, however, is existent apathy that, although the local natives (N

Estremadura) were aware of the presence of fish in their rivers, and told us that soht (these were barbel), yet they knew no distinctive na or little, were merely _pesces--Muy buenas pesces_ None could describe them, whether as to appearance or habit, nor did they knohether so we have seen practised in this province was at Trujillo, where in so that old-world city _Tencas_ (we presume tench) up to 5 or 6 lbs are taken with bait

(2) SALMON

To such an extent used these to abound in Asturian strea doiven salmon more than twice a week At the present day the pollution of rivers by coal- and other impurities has in soreatly reduced their numbers There yet remain, nevertheless, rivers in Asturias (such as the Deva and Cares) where salht--chiefly by net, though rod-fishi+ng is gradually extending its popularity, ”owing to the glorious emotions it excites”

A local method deserves a word of description In the crystal-clear waters of N Spain salularly captured by expert divers Its exact position having beenwarily up fro noose over the salins to run; an attached line is then hauled upon by a second fisherman on the bank

The Marquis de Villaviciosa de Asturias writes us:--

It is a common practice with the fisherrandfather, the Marquis de Ca in the river Nalon in Asturias

(3) BEAR-HUNTING IN ASTURIAS

To the same nobleman (one of the first sports note:--

As regards the chase of the bear in Asturias, where I have killed four, I may say that it commences in Septe nightly froround in order to raid the maize-fields in the valleys Expert trackers, sent out at daybreak, spoor the bear right up to whichever covert he e beyond

The locality at which the ani thus ascertained, a _ provided with crackers, eine--even the services of the bagpiper[52] are requisitioned!

Three or four guns are usually required, and are posted along the line where the bear is most likely to break--such as where the forest runs out to a point; or where it is narrowed by so spur of precipitous rocks; or a deep valley where the covert is flanked by a mountain-torrent that restricts and defines the probable line of escape

The bear (which is in the habit of attacking and destroying h the brushwood, breaking down all obstacles, and giving ample notice by the noise of his advance If wounded he will attack the aggressor; but otherwise bears only beco or are hurt in some way The picturesque nature of these mountain-forests lends a further fascination to the chase of the bear in Asturias From twenty to thirty bears are killed here every year

The following quaint paragraphs we extract from Spanish newspapers:--

FIGHT WITH A BEAR--In the mountains of the Province of Lerida (Catalonia) a bear last week attacked and overpowered ato devour hih at so with his utmost speed to the spot, he threw hied and strenuous coa y esforzada_), the shepherd succeeded with his lance (_garrocha_) in killing the savage beast (_fiera_)

In his gratitude, the muleteer desired to present the shepherd with the best horse of his cavalcade, but this the latter declined--_November 24, 1907_