142 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



brought home from Loch Craggie,one daj^, fifty-six pounds 

 weight of trout, scarcely one of which was under one 

 pound weight, many were two pounds and three pounds 

 weight, and all of surpassing symmetry and beauty. These 

 trout seem to be a different variety to those obtained from 

 any other loch in Sutherland. They are deep thick-set 

 fish, thickly covered with large brown and orange spots. 



At the north end of Loch Shin, and distant from 

 Lairg about sixteen miles, is Overskaig, where there is 

 inn-accommodation for about seven or eight visitors. We 

 were anxious to go there, but we found that they were 

 unable to receive us at the inn for several days, and we 

 had, therefore, to seek other quarters. 



The loch fishing at Overskaig is of a very high 

 character. In addition to Loch Shin, there are Lochs 

 Merkland and Griam, angling upon which is free to 

 visitors at the inn. Besides loch-trout, each of these lochs 

 contains 6". ferox, many fine specimens of which are 

 procured. Loch Shin also contains char and salmon. 

 Char abound in scores of the Sutherland lochs, but they 

 are very rare risers to the fly, and have never been 

 known to be taken by any other lure. But there is a 

 small loch of the finest spring water high up on the 

 shoulder of Ben Hope, where this very shy and beautiful 

 fish is said to take a small grey fly freely. There is 

 another small loch near the Manse of Durness — Loch 

 Borley or Borralie — which is said to contain char only, and 

 where they are got in considerable numbers in October. 



Early this autumn (1879) there appeared in the 

 columns of the Field a series of papers upon the Over- 



