36 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



The day following I fished the lower pools of the Laxford. 

 They were considerably swollen, and the fish evidently were on 

 the move upwards. On reaching the turn half-way up the river, 

 I raised a salmon seven or eight pounds in weight, the fly a 

 small butcher, and shortly after had the satisfaction of hooking 

 and landing him. This fish, and upwards of a dozen sea-trout, one 

 of which weighed about four pounds, completed the day's sport. 



On Monday the 26th I shifted my quarters to Rhiconich, being 

 recommended by Mr. Maclvor to test one or two of the lakes to 

 which salmon had access, in the vicinity of that place of halt. 

 Accordingly, on arriving there, I proceeded, under guidance of 

 Hugh Mackay, the landlord's son, to Garbet Beg Loch, a small 

 sheet of water connected with the sea by a burn or rivulet for 

 in summer the Inchard is of that character two miles in length. 

 On this lake, and at its outlet, I captured two salmon, of the 

 respective weights of eleven pounds and eight pounds, a couple 

 of newly-run grilses, thirty-eight sea-trout, and a number of 

 common black trout of various dimensions. I was unfortunate, 

 however, in losing a magnificent fish, after a run of nearly half 

 an hour. The fellow took what is called a sulky fit, and lay 

 down with a weight of forty yards of line upon him in a central 

 part near the head or neck of the lake, close evidently to a large 

 rock or boulder. I felt him distinctly sawing away at my casting- 

 line against its rugged edge a feat he accomplished, just as I 

 was in the act of slipping a wire-ring, constructed hurriedly from 

 the arming of a pike-hook, down my line, with a view to start 

 him afresh. 



On the following morning I betook myself again to Garbet 

 Beg Loch, but fishing was out of the question, not a breath of 

 wind ruffling its surface. From the upper loch, Garbet More, a 

 slight breeze prevailing, I picked out a fair-sized sea- trout. Re- 

 tracing my steps to the Inchard, I had the satisfaction, in rough, 

 heavy water, among a succession of rapids and small cataracts 



