348 FORTH AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. 



river trout, and a few of the migratory species push up 

 into its waters. 



In connection with the rivers discharging themselves 

 into the Firth of Forth may be mentioned the far-famed 

 LOCH LEVEN, in Kinross-shire. This lake previous to 

 its late partial drainage extended to four thousand six 

 hundred and thirty-eight imperial acres. It is now 

 diminished, when in its maximum state, to three thou- 

 sand five hundred and forty-three acres, or by one- 

 fourth of its extent. In consequence of the drainage, 

 the feeding grounds of the trout inhabiting it have 

 been greatly reduced in size, and the fishings, according 

 to the calculation of Dr. Fleming, of Aberdeen, pre- 

 judiced to the extent of seventy-three pounds per 

 annum. The present rental is upwards of two hundred 

 pounds, and the price of the trout at Kinross one 

 shilling per pound, that of pike two-pence, and perches 

 two-pence per dozen. Betwixt thirty and forty years 

 ago, the Loch Leven trout were sold there at four- 

 pence per pound. The fishings in this loch commence 

 on the 1st of January, and close on the 1st of Sep- 

 tember. In my opinion, they are open at least three 

 months over and above what they ought to be. No 

 trout, in any lake in Scotland, arrives at edible con- 

 dition before the 10th of February, and few ought to 

 be eaten later in the season than the middle of August. 

 The fishings of Loch Leven employ two boats and four 

 boatmen, during a considerable part of the season. 

 One of the largest trout captured here weighed nearly 

 eighteen pounds, and they are frequently killed half 

 that weight. In 1822, a pike was caught in this loch, 

 weighing forty-two pounds, Dutch weight. 



The following is an extract from an article, in the 

 Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (Trail- 



