CH. 1. TROUT OF LOCH URIGIL. 11 



After waiting some time about the edge of the 

 loch I rejoined my companions, and we again re- 

 newed our portage of the boat over that weary hilL 

 I had left a line with several hooks baited with 

 small trout in the lake near the inn, and on return- 

 ing found a salmo ferox which weighed something 

 above two pounds on it. While taking in the line 

 a monster trout ran at the fish already caught, and, 

 notwithstanding its size, nearly swallowed it, leav- 

 ing the marks of his teeth in the shape of deep 

 cuts across the middle of the two-pound trout. I 

 should like to have seen the fish at closer quarters 

 who made an attack on such a goodly-sized bait, 

 as he must have been a perfect fresh- water shark. 

 There can be no doubt that in some of these lakes, 

 where the water is deep and the food plentiful, 

 these trout must grow to a size not yet ascertained. 

 None of these lakes have ever been properly fished. 

 A few days' trolling can never be depended on as 

 a proof of the size of the fish in them, more par- 

 ticularly as we all know that the larger a trout is 

 the less inclined is he to take any bait. I will 

 leave it for others to judge of the size of a trout 

 that could nearly swallow one of his own species 

 weighing considerably above two pounds. 



During our drive to Inchnadamph in the after- 

 noon we had a fine view of Benmore of Assynt, and 



