92 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



gradual slope of seven or eight feet in height. The depth, I 

 allow, of the descending medium at the places selected by the 

 fish on these occasipns is not great, but it is quite sufficient to 

 admit of the free action of the caudal, pectoral, and ventral fins, 

 and is more suited than that of the main run for the passage of 

 breeders ; indeed, they invariably decline making use of the latter 

 as impracticable, on account of its velocity. In regard to the 

 Tummel falls, I see nothing to prevent them from being so 

 treated as to be made capable of affording an easy passage to 

 salmon in all their stages. Taking into account the compensation 

 implied, for it really is so, in the opening up of an inviting 

 approach to the spawning-grounds of the upper Tummel, and to 

 those connected with Lochs Rannoch, Ericht, and Lydoch, viz., 

 the Erocht and Gawin rivers, the expenditure of a few hundreds 

 is neither here nor there. As for any injury threatening the 

 scenic attractions of the falls, that, by a little exercise of taste, 

 could readily be obviated. The development of such resources 

 as those I have named is surely worth the consideration of the 

 Tay Commissioners. 



During my sojourn at Pitlochrie in 1854, I was induced, by 

 some traditionary reports afloat in the village atmosphere, and 

 given credit to, after a manner, by the primitives who circulated 

 them, as to the wonderful contents of an old marl-pit, situated on 

 the hill which leads up towards Moulin. Such-and-such a tried 

 hand had put signature to the belief that it contained trout of 

 unconquerable strength and enormous size. An encounter with 

 one of these monsters was invariably followed by the loss of tackle, 

 no matter its strength. On this account, and owing to the re- 

 puted shyness of the fish, which, it was further stated, could only 

 be tempted to rise in the spring months, before the reeds and 

 other water plants had gained ascendency, the place was scarcely 

 ever disturbed by the rod-fisher. 



