AND ANGLING SONGS. 69 



Forth and Dunkeld, the feeding-grounds of which have a sustain- 

 ing look about them, equal at least to that which Tweed presents 

 below Wark or Coldstream. Above its junction with the 

 Tummel, Tay to some extent loses this feature, and in many 

 places discovers a shiftiness or compliancy of disposition in the 

 material of its alveus, and in consequence a want of permanent 

 and reliable feeding- ground, which are sufficiently explanatory 

 of its defects as a trouting- river. 



In this capacity I tested it, fairly and fully, for the space of 

 eight or nine days, during the summer of 1853, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Aberfeldy, under what I am inclined to hold were the 

 most favourable circumstances possible for ascertaining the capa- 

 bilities, or rather the actual resources, of a river of considerable 

 calibre. On the occasion I refer to, my intention to prosecute 

 the nobler sport of salmon-fishing having, through the occur- 

 rence of calm, cloudless weather, been laid aside, I betook 

 myself, along with my brother, Capt. S., R.N. (we were residing 

 together close to the celebrated Falls of Moness), to trouting with 

 the worm a branch of the art piscatorial held in contempt, I 

 am aware, by the highfliers, but which I shall always maintain, 

 requires, in order to excel in it, greater address, and apter 

 knowledge of the habitat of the trout, under certain conditions 

 of river and atmosphere, than are called into play in mere 

 surface-whipping. On Tweedside and where can there be 

 found a better arena either for action or judgment in fishing 

 matters ? this has been proved and decided on over and over 

 again. 



Under the circumstances, however, I have referred to, the 

 streams being in first-rate order, and the portion of them tra- 

 versed embracing a considerable stretch of preserved water, the 

 contents of our panniers (which, although they did not, taken 

 separately, exceed on any one day twelve or fourteen pounds in 

 weight, gave great surprise to several Aberfeldians) satisfied me 



