AND ANGLING SONGS. 31 



mitted by the common river trout among the salmon fry and on 

 the salmon ' redds.' 



In the evening I took a stroll in company with my friend, the 

 then tenant of Achinduich, to Shinness, with the view of witness- 

 ing the efforts of the fish to overcome the falls. From what I 

 saw there, and have elsewhere seen, I am quite convinced that a 

 newly-run, well-conditioned salmon, in July and August, can, on 

 reaching, by a spring or leap, the point at which the descent of 

 water breaks, make its way up the neck or compact portion of 

 the fall, let it be ever so perpendicular, by the pushing and steer- 

 ing powers of its fins and tail. Shinness, independent of its scenic 

 attractions, presents, in the month of August, perhaps as good 

 a point of observation as any in Scotland for ascertaining the 

 climbing capabilities of the salmon, and forming an opinion of 

 its determinedness when in quest of eligible breeding-ground. 



On the 12th of August, I proceeded by mail-gig to Loch 

 Inver, the inn whereof, along with the rod-fishings of the river, 

 were then in the hands of Mr. Dunbar. Arriving there, I found 

 assembled a party of anglers, and among them the late Mr. Fitz- 

 gibbon, the well-known and highly appreciated contributor on 

 fishing subjects, etc., to Bell's Life. We were soon, as may be 

 supposed, on terms of intimacy ; and in the course of the evening 

 strolled out together, rod in hand, along the banks of the Inver, 

 which, owing to the want of rain, was in a most exhausted state. 

 A sea-trout of two or three pounds' weight was the sum-total 

 encreeled by me, after an hour's perseverance. Next day, in 

 company with Mr. Fitzgibbon, I gave trial to some of the most 

 likely pools higher up, but only succeeded in raising two salmon 

 which came towards the fly with seeming distrust, and refused all 

 further recognition of my lures. This indifference, no doubt, 

 proceeded from the reduced state of the river and the prevailing 

 heat ; but it was also evident, and admitted by Mr. Dunbar, that 

 the Inver was poorly stocked ; a conclusion I came to from the 



