CHAPTER XIX. 



SEA TROUT FISHING AND ITS CHANCES. 



OR his size and weight there is no more sporting fish in the 

 wide world than the sea trout. His play when hooked is so 

 full of vivacity, so strenuous, you never know what he is 

 going to do next. Half the time of the contest he spends 

 out of the water in the air. He rushes hither and thither in 

 the most unexpected manner, and having no particular 

 stronghold or shelter to make for, such as his cousins, the 

 brown trout, possess in their rivers, he tries by resourceful 

 activity to rid himself of the irksome restraint of the rod and line. His 

 rise, too, is so determined and so dashing — no quiet sucking down of a 

 dun without much perceptible body movement, but rather a rapid dash to 

 secure an article of food before his comrades can get it. Not much need 

 to strike with him ; he hooks himself pretty effectually by his own efforts. 

 Given a single-handed split cane rod, fine tackle, and plenty of fresh run 

 sea trout in a Highland river, and you have the prospect of as good a 

 day's sport as any you ever enjoyed. You never know what the next cast 

 will produce ; it may be a half-pounder or something twelve times as big. 

 The worst of sea trout, from the angler's point of view, is that they 

 are rather gregarious and keep in shoals ; they are always anxious to move 

 up to the still deeps they love so well, and you may just miss the shoal — 

 they may be just above your water. But if you do happen to hit them off, 

 you will have no reason to regret it. Not many seasons ago I was invited 

 by a friend to shoot with him on one of the many Western islands near 

 Mull. Just before I reached the lodge, in my somewhat long drive up 



