An Angler's Paradise. 17 



Most of the trout are under the necessity of passing down 

 stream for spawning purposes, and this they do until they reach 

 the junction of the stream with another known as the Glen burn, 

 when they alter their course and head up the latter in large num- 

 bers, pushing right up to its very source, as well as up some of its 

 tributaries. This description of Loch Kinder is applicable, in a 

 more or less modified degree, to a great many of our lakes, the 

 fishing of which might be very materially improved by a little 

 judicious interference on the part of man. I have met many an 

 angler who has very pleasant reminiscences of days spent on the 

 loch, but all agree in saying, that it ought to yield them a far 

 better basket of fish. And so it would under slightly altered 

 conditions. 



If it be possible to keep up such a constant supply of trout 

 as is now being done in Loch Leven, notwithstanding the pike, 

 how much more easily it might be done in other lochs where no 

 pike exist. Loch Awe, too, is another instance, and I might 

 mention more. Even in lakes containing pike it has been proved 

 that, by using proper means, a splendid stock of trout may be 

 maintained, and it is idle to talk longer of the uselessness of 

 dealing with such waters. That day is now gone by. 



There was a time when here the land was full of magpies, 

 jays, and hawks ; more of these birds than grouse and partridges. 

 How now ? I have hardly seen a magpie or a jay the last ten years 

 in this part. Hawks there are a few, because they're migratory. 

 And also as to mammals ; why, the polecat and the badger are 

 about extinct, the wild cat's gone, the stoat and weasel too are 

 very scarce, but grouse and rabbits are abundant where formerly 

 they were rarely seen. Pike can be killed or caught alive, and 

 pike are valuable in their proper places, and they should not spoil 

 but help to make "an angler's paradise." So let us put them 

 right. These little matters will get shaken down after a while. 



I have seen many lakes in which a stock of trout might 

 easily be maintained notwithstanding the pike waters that now 

 are comparatively barren the existing pike being chiefly small, 

 having little to feed on but each other, and perhaps a few perch. 

 A few years ago it was supposed that the presence of pike in any 

 water was an insuperable difficulty in the way of stocking with 

 c 



