98 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



Bathing Pool, being used as such by the juveniles of the town, 

 the same to all appearance friendly footing is maintained by its 

 mixed inhabitants. The hole in question is actually crowded 

 with small trout, among which, as is well known, three pike, one 

 apparently of nine or ten pounds in weight, have taken up their 

 abode, and do not appear, when sailing about, to exercise any 

 deterring effect upon their freckled companions, which feed boldly 

 in their presence, and cross within a foot or two of their formid- 

 able jaws. Such instances of friendly relation, however, are to 

 be looked upon with distrust, and do not disturb the fact that 

 pike are most dangerous enemies to the young fry. In this 

 light, should any attempt ever be made to facilitate the access of 

 salmon through the Tummel to the higher district, it is desirable 

 they should be viewed, and their present occupation of the loch 

 and its outlet as much as possible interfered with. 



THE PIRATE OF THE LAKES. 



GAILY rock the lily beds 



On the marge of Lomond lake ; 

 There the wandering angler treads, 

 Nature round him all awake, 

 Mountains ringing, 

 Fountains singing 

 Their sweet secrets in the brake. 



n. 



Swiftly from the water's edge 



Shoots the fierce pike, wing'd with fear, 

 To his lair among the sedge, 



As the intruding form draws near ; 



