AND ANGLING SONGS. 1 05 



the spring months, under conduct of one well versed in the 

 subaqueous territory, an exciting run or two may be calcu- 

 lated on. 



From Loch Tay I passed on to Killin, amusing myself for an 

 hour in the Lochy, a short way above where it enters the 

 Dochart. Rains having fallen on the high grounds during the 

 night, this stream, which above the point of junction is of a 

 level character, was in good order, and invitingly ruffled. The 

 trout in consequence rose freely. At Killin I spent some time 

 watching the mode of catching salmon practised at the Bridge 

 Pool. I then struck up the valley of the Dochart towards Luib, 

 wetting feather occasionally on the river as I proceeded. The 

 day had become too bright and calm to expect sport with the fly, 

 no discoloration from rain, such as had affected its feeder, having 

 taken place in the main stream. As a trouting river, the Dochart 

 was held in high estimation by the late Professor Wilson, and 

 formed, in the neighbourhood of Luib, the scene of one of his last 

 angling explorations, in 1845. Mrs. Gordon, in the admirable 

 Memoir drawn out by her of her father (vol. ii. p. 296), gives 

 an account of this visit, along with two letters of the Professor's, 

 in which he details the sport met with. 



The rod-fishing for salmon, I may mention, on the Dochart, 

 near Luib, during summer, is more to be relied on than what 

 at that season is met with in Strath- Tay itself. To account for 

 this, besides the presence of the fish, and such facilities as are 

 given by the reduced size and natural boarding up of the river, 

 in the way of commanding the salmon- casts, there is to be taken 

 into consideration the lower temperature of the water, incident 

 to the altitude of its course, during the hqt months. 



From Luib I progressed to Lochearnhead, and from thence on 

 to the Trossachs, fishing in my way the Strathire or Balvaig river, 

 and Loch Lubnaig. On leaving the Trossachs I walked up 



