202 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



be like at night. He had never, he said, caught 

 a fish heavier than a half-pounder, and here there 

 were salmon all waiting. ''And, ye ken, Rowan, 

 it's fush I came for and nae for the putting of ye 

 richt where yer doctrine is at fault. Come ye 'oot 

 and bring the net wi ye and maybe the gaff and I'll 

 listen to yer clavers at the river's side." 



This caused a general movement towards the 

 nearest pools where we found the sea-trout were 

 rising briskly and, by the time dark night had 

 fallen, we had captured upwards of two dozen which 

 made a pretty show when set upon two dishes with 

 a lamp shining upon them. 



Marcus our Hayden Coffin was the most suc- 

 cessful. He had been fishing with a Silver Doctor 

 which not only beguiled the largest of the trout but 

 also induced one of the many salmon in the Bridge 

 Pool to take it. A little crowd of us, with gaffs and 

 nets, answered his cry for help, but alas ! they were 

 not needed ; the line fouled a bush and the fish 

 broke away. 



That night it rained, rained perseveringly ; and 

 our breakfast-table was enlivened by the sound 

 of the still enduring storm. Anxiously we all 

 visited the river. It was not yet affected. All then 

 scattered to enjoy whatever hope there was of 

 success. 



My sons and I visited the much-praised loch. I 

 rowed the boat while they fished, but though we 

 saw some big fish move they came not to the rods. 

 My companions, however, were highly pleased with 

 the basket of trout they captured and with the 

 improvement which they had made in casting. 



While rowing I had noticed the increase in the 



