2i6 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



rally been able to trace each individual case either to some act 

 of imprudence in the way of deep wading, during very cold 

 weather, or. when using water-proofs, to getting over-heated. 

 Immediately connected with this indulgence of the habit, when 

 young, I cannot bring to mind any one instance in which I seri- 

 ously suffered from moderate wading, the precautions above- 

 mentioned being strictly adhered to. As already observed, 

 however, I should not like to recommit myself to the bygone 

 practice, unless, let me add, at a temperature, in the water itself, 

 approaching 55 degrees. Although I have crowned May queen 

 of months in connexion with angling on St. Mary's Loch, April 

 has been excluded by me solely on account of its uncertainty. 

 My diary, however, speaks befriendingly of April, consorted with 

 sport on this lake. I find in it the following entries : 



29th April 1829, . . 25 trout, weighing 171b. 



23d 1831, . . 42 ,, ,, 26 



30th 1831, . . 43 ,, 25 



21st 1832, . . 43 ,, 27 



29th 1833, . . 67 32 



29th 1834, . 78 35 



23d 1835, . . 49 28 



To these captures, in the years mentioned, many close ap- 

 proaches were made, which it is needless to specify. From the 

 May record I extract as follows : 



12th May 1829, 1 salmon kelt, 51 trout, weighing 27 lb. 



15th 1830, . . 36 24 



19th 1830, . . 47 23 



7th 1832, . . 60 21 



4th 1833, . . 79 36 



The trout of St. Mary's Loch, in point of external appearance 

 and edible qualities, vary more than those of any sheet of water 

 I am acquainted with. This is owing, among other causes, to 

 the diversity of the feeding-grounds. Although, when in con- 

 dition, some of them show well and cut red, they rarely come 



