6 MAY 1955, Page 18

THE SALMON POOL We came to a point where the

ground fell away rapidly, a drop of 300 feet and more, and my companions paused to admire the view of the valley and the river winding through it and glittering in the afternoon sunlight. 'Remem- ber,' said one, 'when they blew'up the salmon pool? Old T.— he's dead now—nearly had a heart attack when the explosion took place. They'd put in too much. Everybody in B. heard it. There were forty salmon in the pool at the time and the bailiff had been watching them like an old hen. They took him unawares and were off home by the time he arrived. He fished out twenty dead salmon. They got eighteen. They only managed to sell one, for everybody was watching for the salmon to be offered. Oh yes, they were caught.'