174 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



rather light tackle, and lastly, the chance of filling their creel on a 

 day unsuited to the gentle pursuit. 



On this latter point, the writer speaks from personal experience. 

 He had been fishing in one of the Welsh rivers for salmon 

 and White Trout, and each successive day the odds had grown 

 in favour of the fish, and against the fisherman. The sun was 

 provokingly bright, and the river had become as provokingly low. 

 The fishing party had started out as usual, consisting of 

 two or three veterans, with large salmon rods and tackle, and 

 with gillies, whose faith in the powers of their masters was only 

 equalled by their ignorance of the true art of fishing, and the writer 

 unaccompanied, with a moderately strong trout rod, and good- 

 sized trout flies. His departure was not imposing, and he was 

 diffident as to his own powers. But his return, with full creel, 

 when the others had not even had a rise, was triumphant and 

 satisfactory. 



Among the fishing resorts mentioned above, the Hebrides 

 can strongly be recommended ; Loch Boirdale in South Uist 

 is a splendid camping ground. But the accommodation, though 

 good, is limited, and steps must be taken to secure rooms 

 beforehand. The low-lying plains of the islands are intersected 

 with lochs into which the White Trout run, fresh with the vigour 

 of the sea. The best fishing grounds lie some way from the hotel, 

 but conveyances are ready to take the fisher every morning. As 

 there is no other sport but fishing on the islands, the companion- 

 ship is usually congenial, and there is no difficulty about arranging 

 for the different fishing grounds. The cost of living, etc., is cheap 

 and the fare is good, and, beyond the initial cost of the journey, 

 the expense is not great. 



