no AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



superintending its outlet. I also gave the river Awe a trial with 

 trout-flies. The contents of my pannier, at the close of the day, 

 bordered upon five dozens, among which were several of about a 

 pound in weight. My friend, who joined me at Bunaw, accom- 

 plished, on the same day, the capture of sixteen dozens, from a 

 lochlet situated two or three miles above Cladich. 



To Loch Awe has been ascribed, as its locale, the discovery 

 of that species of Salmo, to which, on account of its predatory 

 habits, naturalists have assigned the appellative ferox. This 

 so-called discovery could merely refer to the recognition as a 

 species of what was formerly held to be nothing more than a 

 variety of thefario, or common fresh-water trout; for, as to the 

 existence, not only in Loch Awe, but in other Highland lakes, 

 of large trout, rapaciously inclined and armed with formidable 

 jaws, it was very improbable that, until near the end of last 

 century, when the discovery is said to have taken place, it should 

 have remained a secret. Indeed, the disclosure in question does 

 not depend, as alleged, in the slightest degree upon the exercise 

 of skill shown by any one angler, or upon this or that wonderful 

 piece of good luck he may have fallen in with, but it occurs 

 periodically, as a matter of course, in the spawning season, when 

 the fish, repairing to the fords and shallow feeders, take no great 

 pains to hide themselves, leaving it seemingly to the prudence 

 and generosity of mankind not to disturb or injure them. This 

 is exemplified particularly with regard to the Salmo ferox on the 

 Aid Eitach river, a feeder of Loch Rannoch, which, for breeding 

 purposes, is preferred by the species named to any other sources 

 of supply. There the great lake -trout have been in the habit 

 of congregating from time immemorial, and passed periodically 

 under review, nay, writhed on the prongs of the leister long 

 before the troller's apparatus was invented or brought to bear 

 against them. In respect to the recognition by naturalists of 



