78 THE TROUT 



were placed therein, and not a fish can now be found 

 in it. 



Poaching has not been the cause of this cata- 

 strophe. The moors are too carefully watched for 

 that. And though analysis has failed to discover the 

 reason, the only conclusion I can arrive at, as regards 

 the burn at least, is, that it possesses some strange 

 peaty poison which destroys every trout. As to the 

 reservoir, I must conclude that either from the same 

 cause, or from the fact that, in common with other 

 similar constructions, its bottom is made of c pud- 

 dled ' material, it is useless to hope that any trout 

 fishing will ever be possible in that piece of water. 

 It is probable that the shortness of feed consequent 

 upon . the manner in which the reservoir was of 

 necessity made, and the materials used, has been the 

 main cause of this disastrous result ; as I conclude 

 that, notwithstanding the fact that a number of trees 

 and shrubs, such as willow, alder, and rowan trees, 

 have been planted round the edge of the water, still 

 the bottom of the reservoir cannot produce any food 

 worth mentioning. But this cannot be considered 

 . quite a satisfactory explanation of the difficulty ; for 

 it is certain that within a comparatively short distance 

 there are similar sheets of water which hold quantities 

 of trout. 



