LONE LOCH WEE 73 



Unluckily our hopes as to the size of the fish 

 were speedily put to flight by the sight of a beautiful 

 silvery creature, not unlike a sea trout, of about three- 

 quarters of a pound in weight, flinging himself a yard 

 out of water. This fish, which showed the most 

 amazing activity, was presently landed, and we con- 

 tinued to cast away with renewed ardour. Nor had 

 we to wait long ere a trout of just over a pound 

 rewarded our efforts, another silvery beauty, that 

 sprang half-a-dozen times into the air. This was 

 followed by several more of the same type ; but 

 so far we had seen nothing to justify the account of 

 the large size of the fish, as set forth in the " Sports- 

 man and Tourist's Guide." 



After a hasty lunch, the breeze still blowing 

 steadily, we resumed our fishing. We had not drifted 

 for many minutes when I saw a slight swirl appear 

 at my flies, and, upon striking, felt that delightful 

 sensation as if — as an old friend of mine used to 

 say — "one had struck into a lump of lead." Almost 

 immediately a huge trout, four or five pounds in 

 weight, came crashing out of the water. He followed 

 up the demonstration by an extraordinary series 

 of gyrations, with the boat for his axis, causing 

 me to turn round like a teetotum. Certainly the 



