96 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



In 1854 I renewed niy acquaintance with Loch Tummel, at a 

 period of the year corresponding to that of my former visit. No 

 great external change had been wrought upon it, or the surround- 

 ing scenery, but in respect to the contents of the lake, as far as 

 vegetable and piscine life were concerned, these appeared to be 

 very decidedly altered. I have observed, I may state, a similar 

 revolution in progress on many lakes and rivers which I fre- 

 quented in my younger days. What was formerly unobstructed 

 water, clear, with the exception of a few desultory patches, from 

 weeds, has gradually, a large expanse of it, become unserviceable 

 for trolling purposes, owing to the springing up, in some places 

 from a great depth, of aquatic plants. As a consequence of this 

 dense growth the pike of Loch Tummel have greatly increased 

 in numbers, while the trout have proportionably decreased. At 

 the outlet of the lake, below the ferry-house, the first-mentioned 

 fish appear to have taken up a position of offence. Evidently 

 they swarm there in unusual quantities, instinct guiding them to 

 that particular point or pass as one which affords both facilities 

 and opportunities for an onslaught on the descending fry of those 

 occasional salmon which, overcoming the lower falls of the river, 

 have passed through the lake to the base of old Schiehallion. 



On the occasion of my last visit to Loch Tummel, 20th July 

 1854, along with my youngest brother, we captured, in the 

 course of an hour, half a dozen of these liers-in-wait, with no 

 other apparatus than a couple of stimsh trouting-rods, and trolling 

 tackle mounted on gimp and baited with small trout. Had we 

 devoted the entire afternoon to the work, instead of wasting it 

 uselessly along the shores of the loch in the hope of getting hold 

 of one or two of its magnificent trout, I am convinced that we 

 should have lugged out a score and upwards of these depredators. 



Connected with the capture just mentioned, the following in- 

 cident occurred : From a small creek which diverged from the 

 outlet spoken of, I had just landed a hungry-looking jack, two or 



