140 Rambles witJi a Fishing-Rod, 



Sea-trout fishing, so far from being a con- 

 templative amusement, is quite the reverse. 

 The perfection of a day for this kind of angling 

 is one on which a strong gale is blowing from 

 the south-west, when now and again a drench- 

 ing shower reminds you that the mists of the 

 Atlantic are at last encountering the Highland 

 hills, and when, standing up in the stern of a 

 substantial boat, a few moments' contempla- 

 tion over the field of morals or of art will 

 end in your losing your balance, and finding 

 yourself spluttering in the water of the loch. 

 But in the excitement of the sport you are 

 unmindful of wind or rain ; and when the sky 

 is clearer, when a fresh but modest wind raises 

 the surface of the water, and the colours are 

 most charming on the mountains, you are too 

 engrossed with the sport to do more than take 

 momentary notice of hues which at another 

 time would monopolise your attention. For 

 sea-trout fishing, on a good lake with a proper 

 breeze, or in a river in which the water is in 

 good condition, must absorb an angler if he is 

 an angler at all. There is none of the uncer- 

 tainty of salmon-fishing about it. If there is 

 a fair supply of sea-trout, they are given the 



