98 Dry-Fly Fishing. 



floating before his nose by a first cast, perhaps, 

 arousing his attention, and at the next presentation 

 he would suck it in and be hooked. I explored the 

 river for nearly a mile, and was charmed by its 

 whole environment ; all seemed so peaceful and 

 sequestered. But, alas ! that was a delusion, for all 

 through the night there was the continuous rumble, 

 rattle, and clatter of traffic on the Caledonian line, 

 the shrieking whistles of engines, and blowing off 

 of steam, shunting, and bumping, so that my rest 

 was completely disturbed. More than sixty trains 

 and " pilots " passed every night, so the station- 

 master told me. To change my quarters after the 

 first week was inevitable. I was sorry, for the 

 sport was good, i.e., twenty-three trout and six 

 grayling falling to my rod from July 1st to 4th, 

 altogether, including those caught on the first day, 

 seventeen and a half brace. 



By other offers of fishing in answer to my 

 advertisement referred to above, I was tempted to go 

 first to Dairy, in Galloway, for a week, where I 

 found the scenery very beautiful, but only small 

 trout and many salmon parr could be caught. 

 Then I went to Girvan, in Ayrshire, and was 

 comfortably lodged for another week at the King's 

 Arms Hotel, having the benefit of sea air, fresh- 

 caught delicious sea fish (especially small herrings) 

 for breakfast, rest at night, and a thorough change ; 



