300 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



In Yetholm and Dunse Castle Lochs, I may add also the 

 Drummond Castle Ponds, and those at Ilaith in Fifeshire, Beal 

 in East Lothian, and Gartmoru near Alloa, I have noticed 

 somewhat similar conditions of water, but never at the corre- 

 sponding period of the year ; only in their case during autumn, 

 and after a disturbance by rain and wind of the rank and decay- 

 ing lacustrine vegetation, run to a head since the spread, particu- 

 larly, of the water-weed Anacharis als'mastrum, in one or more 

 of the localities above mentioned. 



There is more, however, than the mere decay of vegetable 

 matter, in its primary stage, to be accounted for here in the Loch- 

 maben district. The aqueous contents of the Castle Loch owe 

 their peculiarity, no doubt, to the alceus itself, and the conjunc- 

 tion of mineral agencies with those derived year after year 

 from the decay of plants. The feeding properties of the water 

 account plainly enough for the finny wealth of the lake, which, is 

 both varied and abundant. They also account for a certain de- 

 gree of fastidiousness as regards their food, which renders it 

 difficult, by means of the angler's resources, to command a suc- 

 cessful day's sport among those of its denizens whose habits are 

 held predatory. The very pike and eels of Lochmaben, I am 

 told, are saucy fish, more capricious in their humours than the pike 

 and eels of other localities. On the bream, which is here very 

 numerous, they disdain to feed. As a dead-bait on the set-line 

 it possesses no charm. A fresh roach so presented they will 

 bolt occasionally ; a live one to the pike is more attractive. He 

 gives preference, however, to the vendace, in proof of which, 

 when taken with the iK-t, he is frequently found gorged with 

 this dainty, showing that he possesses the tact to discriminate 

 betwixt the objects of his prey, and that feeding with him is not 

 always a mere question of gratifying hunger. The vendace 

 being but a rare fish, in comparison with the roach and bream, in 

 the Castle Loch, renders his acquisition of it, in any number, 



