210 THE RIVER TAY. [CHAP. v. 



foliage, and the salmon sport industriously in the deep pools, 

 resorting to the gravel at the proper season in order to dig 

 beds in which to deposit their eggs, and when in due time 

 these are vivified and grow from the fry to the parr state, I 

 have seen the youthful " natives" catching them in scores. 



The Tay deserves special honour, for it must rank as the 

 king of Scottish rivers, receiving as it does the tribute of so 

 many streams, and running its course through such a variety 

 of fine scenery. Loch Tay is generally accounted the source 

 of this river, but if it be considered that the loch is chiefly 

 fed by the river Dochart, the source of this latter river is actu- 

 ally the fountain-head of the Tay. The Dochart rises in the 

 extreme west of Perthshire, and, after striking the base of the 

 " mighty Ben More" and the Dochart Hills, falls into Loch 

 Tay at the village of Kill in, before reaching which place it 

 assumes the dimensions of a considerable river. There is fine 

 angling to be had in the vicinity of Killin ; indeed, the salmon 

 rod-fisheries there are of some value, and trout can be taken 

 in great plenty both in the Dochart and the Lochay. Loch 

 Tay contains abundance of fish, and, as that sheet of water is 

 of considerable size, there is ample room to ply the angle, 

 either for salmon, trout, or charr. The loch is about sixteen 

 miles in length, and is overshadowed on the north by Ben 

 Lawers one of the loftiest of our Scottish mountains. The 

 river Tay issues from the loch within a mile of Taymouth 

 Castle, one of the fine seats of the noble family of Breadal- 

 bane ; and, after flowing eastward for a few miles, its waters 

 are augmented by those of the Lyon, whose source is about 

 twenty-six miles distant from its junction with the Tay. 

 Passing over several minor streams and proceeding eastwards, 

 the next important tributary of the Tay is the Tummel, the 

 junction taking place at the ancient and once famous burgh of 

 Logierait. This river, which is the largest tributary of the 

 Tay, is the outlet of Loch Eannoch, situated in the extreme 



