Scotland being but a small country, bounded on 

 all sides but one by the ocean ; and being, more- 

 over, very hilly and mountainous, all the waters 

 which flow from its bosom have an easy, short, and 

 rapid descent to the sea ; and these circumstances 

 are favourable to the prolific powers of the trout and 

 salmon, and are the cause of those remarkable faci- 

 lities which the rod-fisher enjoys in every portion 

 of the "land o' cakes. " There arc here no long 

 tracts of flat country, through which drowsy rivers 

 meander with a sluggish motion, and thus become 

 comparatively unflt for the higher and more skilful 

 species of angling ; but everything is rushing, rapid, 

 clear, and sparkling, from the banks of the Tweed 

 to John- o'- Groat's house. In every direction, and 

 in beautiful variety, you fall in with the fine ma- 

 jestic river, the limpid bubbling stream, the moun- 

 tain torrent, and the silvery rivulet, with their count- 

 less millions of salmon and trout, which revel in 

 unbounded freedom in their delicious waters, without 

 a rival, and unconscious of any enemy, save the 

 tyrant man. 



But, rich as Scotland is in piscatory resources and 

 facilities, this is not her only claim upon the atten- 

 tion of the angler. There is a remarkable degree of 

 case and pleasure in angling in this country, arising- 

 from another source. Scotland affords, in the first 

 place, a comparatively open, and free field for the 

 pursuit of this delightful and national amusement. 

 Impediments arising from exclusive reserves, and 

 pet waters, are but of rare occurrence ; and the fair 



