AND ANGLING SONGS. 49 



there was that in the general bearing of the river's temperature 

 which encouraged the sea-holding whitlings to abandon their 

 briny haunts and occupy the approach of the spawning-grounds. 

 The first clean sea-trout of the season was taken by me on the 

 neutral ground betwixt the Cauld Dyke and the sea, during ebb- 

 tide, on the 17th of April. From that date on to the middle of 

 May, when I left Nairn, I caught regularly, every lawful day, 

 two or three of these whitlings. They were as lovely fish to 

 look at, and as lively, in action, as one could desire to have on 

 the end of the trouting-line. Finnocks, in fair condition, were 

 in the river along with them when I left it. On the 4th of May 

 I took six of those fish, and on the 9th four. 



I have enlarged on the finnock, or grilse-whitling, in its con- 

 nexion with the river Nairn, because there it was I had the best 

 opportunity of observing its habits. It is possible that, as occurs 

 occasionally on Tweed and other salmon -rivers, irregularities 

 may have prevailed throughout the portions of the two seasons 

 under retrospection, but that they did so in the extreme, or in- 

 volved in them any striking departure from the general rule as 

 observed in that quarter, is not at all likely. 



THE RIVER NAIRN A RETROSPECT. 



i. 

 WATER of Alders ! what is the spell 



That binds me in spirit to thee 1 

 I cared not to drop my farewell, 

 For I left no loved things in meadow or dell ; 



Thou wert but a stranger with me. 



ii. 

 Yet in my fancy often I turn 



From the streams of my choice, all apart 

 D 



