142 SALMON FISHING 



trout rise freely and well. There appears to be a 

 good stock of fish, especially of sea-trout, and they 

 run very large for so small a river." 



The SHIEL, in Argyllshire, is as good as ever it 

 was, and that is saying much. Mr. C. D. Rudd of 

 Ardnamurchan tells me that, although the sport of 

 any month, most notably September, varies much 

 from year to year, the annual results are fairly 

 uniform. 



LOCH TAY, in the heart of the Highlands, has 

 long been a subject of perplexity. Opinions as to 

 whether it is as good as it once was, or may again be 

 so, are almost hopelessly at variance. The opinions 

 to which I allude are the best available. Lord 

 Breadalbane himself, who is owner of the loch, could 

 give me only a general impression ; but he very 

 kindly asked the keepers of the hotels along the 

 shores to contribute their judgments, and these, 

 though in all cases quite sincere, are such as would 

 puzzle the wisest expert in evidence. Mr. William 

 Bennett, at Bridge of Lochay, thinks, from the com- 

 ments of boatmen and anglers, that the sport "is 

 seriously deteriorating."" According to Mr. Peter 

 Campbell, at Ardeonaig, who founds his belief on 

 figures, it is improving. Mr. H. J. Knight, at Killin, 

 is less definitive. Having tabulated the figures of 

 fish caught year by year since 1898, he says : " You 

 will see from the above that the sport varies very 

 much. 1900 was the worst season we have had ; in 

 1893 we had 221 salmon, weighing 4352 Ibs., which 

 was exceedingly good. There is no doubt that the 



