LAKES OF MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 153 



at present so much poached during the spawning 

 season, when the fish ascend the small stream which 



say it is the most powerful of our freshwater fishes, exceeding 

 the salmon in actual force, though not in activity. If hooked 

 upon tackle of moderate strength, they afford excellent sport ; 

 but the general method of fishing for them is almost as well 

 adapted for catching sharks as trout : the angler being appa- 

 rently more anxious to have it in his power to state that he had 

 caught a fish of such a size than to enjoy the pleasures of the 

 sport itself. However, to the credit of both parties, it may be 

 stated that the very strongest tackle is sometimes snapped in 

 two by its first tremendous springs. The ordinary method of 

 fishing for this kind of trout is with a powerful rod, from a 

 boat rowing at the rate of from three to four miles an hour ; 

 the lure a common trout, from about three to ten inches in 

 length, baited upon six or eight salmon hooks, tied back to 

 back upon strong gimp, assisted by two swivels, and the 

 wheel-line strong whip- cord. Yet all this, in the first im- 

 petuous efforts of the fish to regain its liberty, is frequently 

 carried away for ever into the crystal depths of Loch Awe. 

 Professor Wilson of Edinburgh, one of the most accomplished 

 fishermen in Europe, gives the following graphic and humorous 

 sketch of an evening's angling for lake trout : 



" Lie on your oars, for we know the water. The bottom of 

 this shallow bay for 't is nowhere ten feet, in places sludgy, 

 and in places firm almost as greensward ; for we have waded 

 it of yore many a time up to our chin till we had to take to 

 our fins there ! Mr. Yellowlees was in right earnest, and 

 we have him as fast as an otter. There he goes, snoring and 

 snuving along, as deep as he can steady, boys, steady and 

 seems disposed to pay a visit to Rabbit Island. There is a 

 mystery in this we do not very clearly comprehend the uni- 

 formity of our friend's conduct becomes puzzling he is an 

 unaccountable character. He surely cannot be an eel ; yet, 



