66 



that a trout-fisher need not be very fastidious in 

 making a selection from his stock. 



The vale of Annan, taken altogether, forms a most 

 interesting part of Scotland. Prom the rising ground 

 on the east of Totherwold heights, there is a splendid 

 prospect. Beneath lies "Margory of the mossy 

 beds," and the ancient castle of the Bruce, moulder- 

 ing among the stately trees. On the margin of the 

 glassy lake, whose silvery waves, rippling before 

 the southern breeze, murmur in the ear many tales 

 of feudal times, connected with the grey ruins which 

 still appear in solitary grandeur, the entire valley, 

 stretching from north to south, where it terminates 

 at the base of the frowning mountains between it and 

 the wilds of Tweedsmuir, furnishes a diversity of 

 scenery so enchanting, that few localities in the 

 South of Scotland can equal it. The wilder parts of 

 the country, on either side, are full of covenanting 

 associations. 



The stream called the Locher lies between the 

 Annan and the Mth, and contains good sized trout, 

 in tolerable abundance. It has a range of about 

 fifteen miles fair fishable water. In some spots its 

 banks are pleasant and picturesque ; and an angler 

 who has time at his command may spend a day here 

 very agreeably. 



The Mth is the great river in this section of Scot- 

 land. It springs from near New Cumnock, in Ayr- 

 shire, where it receives the tributary called Afton 

 Water, which is full of small but good flavoured 

 trout. These can only be had with worm in any 



