AND ANGLING SONGS. 33 



Loch Assynt and the lesser lochs holding communication with 

 the Inver, with, as might be expected (certainly at least not to 

 my own disappointment), a very limited measure of success ; but 

 to record the result met with, as affecting the repute of the 

 places tested, would be absurd, the season, weather, condition 

 of water, and time of day, all operating in prejudice of sport. 



While fishing on Loch Assynt, under a cloudless sky, Dunbar 

 called our attention to two eagles of the golden species, hovering 

 in the distance, over a glen or corrie that stretched beyond the 

 hills guarding the south-west extremity of the lake. They were 

 watching, there could be no question, the expiring struggles of a 

 sheep or lamb, accidents to which are common in that quarter, 

 and were preparing to make a descent on the quarry. Above 

 them, at a respectful distance, floated three or four ravens, a 

 number which, during the short time we regarded them (quarter 

 of an hour at the most), was increased to no fewer than nine, 

 the new-comers winging their way at a vast height from their 

 beilds on the craggy side of Ben More. 



On the day following, I took advantage of the mail-gig to 

 return to Innisindamph, where we had baited on the journey 

 from Lairg, and from which point I had arranged to visit Muloch 

 Corrie, or the Gillarroo Lake ; also to test, by trolling, the repute 

 of Loch Assynt as a ferox- containing sheet of water. There, 

 after breakfasting, I engaged a boat and provided myself with 

 trolling-bait from the Trailigill burn a matter of no great diffi- 

 culty, as it swarmed with small trout. My successes among the 

 feroces of Loch Assynt were limited to two specimens, one of six 

 and another of four pounds ; but with the fly-rod I was on the 

 whole fortunate, killing several dozens of fine yellow trout. The 

 best portion of these were taken from a bay or inlet close to 

 Ardvrock Castle, celebrated as the stronghold in which, when 

 taken prisoner by the Laird of Assynt in 1650, the Marquis of 

 Montrose was confined. While fishing from the boat, two golden 



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