AND ANGLING SONGS. 29 1 



A stroll down the river succeeded our visit to the salmon-trap. 

 The day was bright, and not adapted for fly-fishing ; the Nith 

 also was clear and low, presenting, in- these respects, some temp- 

 tation to an adept with the worm or creeper. On looking into 

 its pools and streams, however, which the nature of the super- 

 intending banks allowed one to do with effect, I was greatly dis- 

 appointed in discovering that they contained, in proportion to 

 their extent, and considering the advantage given them of being 

 strictly preserved, such a poor supply of river-trout not a tithe, 

 in fact, of what I had been led to expect. The size also of such 

 specimens as met the eye was very inferior. It did not exceed 

 that which characterizes the trout of a third-rate tributary of 

 Tweed. The paucity in question was attributed by Mr. Shaw to 

 the limited extent of the spawning-grounds ; the feeders of the 

 Nith, which at one time furnished a tolerable supply of breeding 

 accommodation, being now. for the most part, rendered inacces- 

 sible by erections for the purpose of hoarding up water-power. 

 A better explanation, I think, may be given, by taking into 

 account the absence of permanent shelter, and the want also of a 

 regular and sufficiently ample supply of food. A mere deficiency in 

 point of numbers, resulting from the narrowing up of the breeding- 

 grounds, would, were food and shelter only ordinarily abundant, 

 become atoned for by a superiority in respect of size and con- 

 dition, a superiority which the Nith trout at Drumlanrig certainly 

 did not discover. I could easily adduce a score of instances to 

 prove, in regard to river and loch trout, of what essential value 

 the provisions above named are, in the way of maintaining the 

 breed ; also showing that an immense stock may be raised over 

 a very limited extent of breeding- ground, provided that breeding- 

 ground be of the right sort. The inquisition held on the Nith 

 trout from the banks was followed up, I may mention, by a fur- 

 ther trial with the rod and line, of which, after nearly an hour's 

 perseverance, the result was the capture of two herring- sized 



