LOCH AWE 155 



fishing in a loch. But surely this is not so. No 

 doubt, in a river, the good fisherman has a much 

 greater pull over the duffer than in a loch, but, 

 even in the latter, it is surprising the difference 

 in weight which will occur between the firstrate 

 angler's basket and that caught by the indifferent 

 or even good fisherman. Put, for instance, Mr. 

 P. D. Malloch in the same boat with another man 

 — who, to all appearance, is a fairly good fisher — 

 for a week's loch fishing, and you would find, 

 probably, on an average, that Mr. Malloch would 

 catch half as many fish again as the other man. 

 It is difficult to tell wherein the difference lies. 

 I believe, when fishing from a boat, that more 

 fish are risen if a long line be cast, but in that 

 case it takes greater skill to hook them. There is 

 no doubt that a great deal of skill is exercised in 

 the striking of trout in still water ; and the angler 

 must have quick sight and a delicate touch, so 

 that he may be instantly aware when a fish is 

 taking the fly, even below the surface. Those few 

 seconds of hesitation so often lose the fish. Unlike 

 a salmon, a trout requires to be struck instan- 

 taneously on sight, except on those occasions when 

 he throws himself right out, or half out of water, 



