are fond of fly-fishing, and who prefer numbers to size; as the trout in these are generally very numerous, but small, so that many dozen may be taken on any favourable day. The lochs being supplied by numerous springs, and the bottoms either rocky or gravelly, and free from mud, the trout are excellent; they, however, differ both in quality and size in different lochs. I have observed that one particular quality and size predominates in each loch. In some you will never take a fish beyond an eighth of a pound; in others they will not exceed a quarter of a pound; in some you will find them about the size of a herring, i. e. half a pound: but where these sizes exist they are always very abundant, so that you may take a large number; in fact, get a rise at almost every throw of your fly. In some the flesh and flavour approaches the redness and taste of salmon; in others the flesh is white, and the flavour that of the ordinary trout, but perfectly

sweet.

In some of the largest and deepest lochs, trout of three, four, and five pounds may be taken; but these large fish are neither so abundant, nor are they so easily taken; in fact, they are rather difficult to take, except with a particular fly, or by trolling. The fish are of excellent quality, although their exterior is very dark. The lochs containing these superior fish are so very rare on

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some moors, that perhaps out of a dozen, eleven will contain only small fish. The lochs on the top of the hills seldom contain large fish, the heavy fish being generally found in the lochs in the low ground; these being more extensive and deeper, and being supplied by many small tributary streams, in addition to their own springs, have a larger and better supply of food. For small trout no flies succeed so well as the red hackle, the gnat, and the dun fly, and, towards evening, a small white fly.

If you are not contented with the productiveness of the rod, you may try a more wholesale implement, called an OTTER. This is made of wood or cork; the latter material, however, being decidedly the better of the two for the purpose. Its length may be from one to two feet, and half that measure in depth, breadth one inch; the shape that of a boat; a piece of lead screwed into and along the bottom, so that it may move perpendicularly. On one side you must have a small strong wire rail, about four inches in length, projecting about one inch. On this there must be a small ring, to which you will attach your line; by which means you can draw the otter to either the right or left. The end of your line ought to consist of three or four yards of strong gut. To this you may attach your flies, at intervals of from two to three feet; a dozen or

more flies, as you may think proper. Your gut end must be attached to a good line, which you will manage with a strong rod and multiplying reel. To work the otter effectively, there must be a slight breeze; the moment it is afloat, it will move off spontaneously, and will then require your direction with the rod and line, which you must give it by walking slowly, and managing the reel; so that you may fish either at a distance in the middle of the loch, or by the sides, as you judge best. You will readily perceive the fish rising and hooking themselves, and bring your otter in whenever your line is sufficiently loaded, and you are in a good position for the purpose.

Experience will soon teach you the most effective manner of using this wholesale implement.

On some waters the use of it might be considered unfair and poaching; but on these Highland lochs a benefit is conferred by the removal of these small trout, as their very superabundance is the occasion of their being so diminutive. It is useless attempting to fish with the otter on a bright, sunny day, except there be a strong breeze; and then it may succeed when a rod would fail: but a warm, mild, cloudy day, with a slight breeze from the south-west, is most favourable. The north and east wind are altogether adverse to success.

The foregoing observations relate merely to the small mountain lochs, and have no reference to

those larger lochs, or rather inland lakes, with which Perthshire especially abounds. In these the trout are of great size; but are not so often caught with the fly as with the minnow, trolling, or rather, in piscatorial language, spinning, or with a night line, baited either with a small fish or young frog. With the latter I have known very large fish taken. The large trout are frequently nearly as good as salmon; and that is not a matter of surprise, as these large lochs are constantly supplied and refreshed by large streams which flow into and through them.

The chief lochs of Perthshire are Loch Katrine, Loch Achray, Loch Ard, Loch Voil, Lubnaig, Dochart, and Earn, in the south-west quarter; Loch Tay, in the centre of the western district; Loch Rannock, Eright, and Lydoch in the northwestern district. There are also some smaller ones. Many of these lochs are accessible to and frequented by salmon; as these fish ascend any river instinctively, as far as they can do so, and it is no slight obstacle which impedes their progress. The waterfalls and acclivities which they leap up, or throw themselves up, must be witnessed to be credited.

The chief rivers in Perthshire are the Tay, the Carn, the Dochart, the Almond, the Garry, the Tummel, the Bruar, the Ericht, the Ardle, the She, and the Isla. Almost all these afford ex

cellent sport to those who are fond of first-rate trout and salmon fishing with the rod; and perhaps there is no amusement more attractive, exciting, and fascinating to the genuine sportsman than the latter; at least, if we may be allowed to judge from the numerous admissions made in its favour by those who have luxuriated in all the pleasurable and recreative excitements which wood, hill, field, plain, and mountain afford, either with the gun or in the chase. To throw your fly over a good pool of water softly agitated by a western breeze, and undulated by a good progressive bubbling current, slightly tinged by a recent shower, the former co-operating with the latter to produce precisely that ripple which you require, with the prepossession that there are heavy salmon, causes as much pleasure and interest to the fisherman, as he cautiously approaches to make his first cast with his fly, as the drawing of a first-rate cover with a pack of fox-hounds to the fox-hunter, with the certainty of a find. And when a good fish is hooked, the excitement is perhaps not less than that produced on the finding of your fox; neither is it less durable, although more continuous, if I may be allowed to use the expression, as you have no checks with your salmon; your skill, vigilance, assiduity, and anxiety being of necessity unremittingly on the stretch until you safely land your fish, be