64 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



Linn. We would gaze at him from the cliffs 

 above — faintly outlined against a golden-coloured 

 rock. It was impossible to leave that fish severely 

 alone, and equally impossible to land him if hooked, 

 as by no means could the angler get down to the 

 water's edge. The latter consideration of course 

 did not deter us from trying to deceive the creature, 

 which we fully believed was the Devil in disguise 

 tempting us to break our tackle. Twice, with worm, 

 after trying many times, did we hook the monster, 

 but each time was our tackle uncompromisingly 

 snapped, until the venture was given up as hopeless. 



The dark, deep pools of the Ken are not the 

 best for trout. There are fish there, but they are 

 of a poorer quality and blacker in colour. The 

 best trout are to be found in the amber-coloured 

 pools that have a clear bottom, as is nearly always 

 the case in Highland rivers. 



Below Dairy the river entirely changes its 

 character, flowing over wide shingle beds with 

 many fine-looking runs and pools. On either 

 hand stretch rich meadows, until, after a course 

 of four miles, it falls into the head of Loch Ken 

 below New Galloway, close to the fine old castle 

 of Kenmure. This part of the water is a good 



