84 ANGLING & ART IN SCOTLAND 



high standard as those to be met with in most of 

 the Galloway lochs ; and Loch Brack, towards the 

 west, containing an abundance of splendid fish. 

 The average size of the trout to be caught in this 

 latter tarn — for it hardly deserves a more important 

 name — has been steadily increasing during the last 

 twenty years. In former days, although I can 

 remember hearing rumours of the large fish which 

 it contained, even up to five pounds in weight, I 

 never saw anything to justify such reports, the trout 

 averaging barely half-a-pound. Now, however, it is 

 most unusual to meet with one under a pound, and 

 the average may be said to be nearer two pounds I 

 But, alas I those two-pounders, although quite 

 numerous (in fact I have never seen a piece of 

 water of its size apparently holding so many large 

 trout) are extremely difficult to catch. Added to this, 

 the loch is strictly preserved. One could hardly 

 come across a more tantalising place, for it is only 

 with the finest tackle that the fish can be induced 

 to rise to the artificial fly, so that the results, as may 

 be imagined, are frequently disastrous. 



We will now bid adieu to the fair land of 

 Galloway — the beautiful " Glenkens," with their 

 wild stretches of glorious moorland — and shape 



