126 LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 



there were but four boats in sight, the others being 

 hidden in distant bays or by Queen Mary's Isle. On 

 our boatmen expressing a wish "to pull west," we 

 consented, so putting their backs into the business, we 

 were soon three miles from the starting place ; then 

 they turned the boat broadside to the breeze, shipped 

 their oars, and while producing their pipes the head 

 man broke silence by saying : " Now, gentlemen, fish 

 away, for it should be a good day." 



We were both soon at work, the trout rising freely, 

 and although we were both old hands at loch fishing, 

 we missed hooking a good many, when in reply to an 

 enquiry as to whether the fish were not coming very 

 short that morning, we got for answer : " Oh, no, sir, 

 not at all, but ye don't strike hard or sharp enough 

 for this loch." The hint being taken, from that time 

 on we hooked nearly every fish that rose, and it became 

 evident Loch Leven trout were quicker in their rise 

 and sharper in detecting the falsity of the lure than 

 the trout of other Scotch lochs, and to make a basket 

 the angler must strike quickly and almost roughly. 



