148 ANGLING. 



The river Ayr^ springs out of the hills, in the vicinity of Muirkirk, 

 and has a run of thirty miles. There is good fishing- in it, as well 

 as in its feeders, the Garpel, the Grcenock, the Luffar, and the Coyle. 



The entire valley of the Ayr is remarkably beautiful and inter- 

 esting ; and the interest which a tourist feels in passing through it 

 is greatly enhanced by the recollection of its being the birth-place 

 of JBurns, and where he spent the larger half of his existence. 

 It was at Mauchline, near the river Avr, that he first saw his 

 " Highland Mary," of whom he beautifully sings 



" Ye banks, and braes, and streams around 



The Castle o 3 Montgomerie, 

 Green be your woods and fair your flowers, 



Your waters never drumlie. 

 There summer first unfaulds her robes. 



And there they langest tarry, 

 Tor there I took my last farewell 



Of my sweet Highland Mary. 



" How sweetly bloomed the gay green birk, 



How rich the hawthorn's blossom, 

 As underneath the fragrant shade 

 I clasped her to my bosom." 



Proceeding towards the city of Glasgow, the angler will meet 

 with the river Ircine, and its feeder, the Cessneck. These are not 

 of any moment. The river Garnack springs from some high 

 grounus in the neighbourhood of Lochs Kilbirnie and Castlesample, 

 in both of which there are large trout, perch, and pike. This 

 river is augmented by four tributaries ; the JRi/e, the Caaf y the 

 Dusk, and the Lityton. There are small trout in all these waters. 



In Renfrewshire, we have the White and Black Cart, and the 

 Gnjf. There are likewise several lochs in this locality tolerably 

 stocked with trout, pike, perch, bream, eels, &c. The chief of these 

 are Loch Goin y Brother Loch, Black Loch, Long Loch. There 

 are char in some of these still sheets of water. 



THE NORTH DIVISION. 



We have now run over the chief rivers and lochs of the south 

 division of Scotland, and we purpose commencing a like ramble 

 over those of the north division. This, however, is no very easy 

 task, looking at the limited space we have to devote to the matter ; 

 for the angling waters are here so numerous, and all so interesting, 

 that an entire volume devoted to the subject could scarce suffice 

 to do them anything like ample justice. 



To reach the main fishing waters in the heart of the country, a* 



