THE BLACK DOG. 370 



thing for two of the rods to have a fish on at the same 

 moment, and I have even heard an instance or two of all 

 three of them being at work simultaneously. A few of 

 the casts, however, can be fished from the shore, and 

 where this is the case, the sport is of a very superior kind ; 

 for, owing to the size of the river and weight of the stream, 

 Tay fish nearly always show great sport. The Tay has 

 been rendered famous by poor Leech, as it was on one of 

 the best known parts of the river that the immortal Briggs 

 killed the great salmon. A magnificent piece of water it 

 is, and is known by the euphonious title of Hell Hole. 

 The system of letting fishing on the Tay is a capital one,. 

 as it provides fishing for a large number of persons at a 

 moderate outlay, while the total of rents is considerable. 

 It is customary to take a certain water for one special day 

 per week throughout the season, five other persons taking- 

 the other five days, each lessee fishing it in turn. The 

 river is best in summer and autumn ; gives a few fish 

 in the spring, but the best sport is in the autumn. 



The spring flies for the Tay are of the largest size. 



The flies used on the Tay have, since the last list was 

 made up, undergone a thorough revolution. All the old 

 plain wings, the long slips of dun turkey and gold have 

 disappeared, and in their stead mixed wings with jungle- 

 cock, wood-duck, and toppings in them, reign. Mr. Paton, 

 of Perth, who is the highest authority upon such matters, 

 remarks in his letter to me upon the change : ' Even the 

 very Wasps and Black Dog, old standard flies since the 

 memory of the oldest inhabitant, now no longer tak' their 

 auld cloaks about them.' 



The Black Dog is smartened up, and has now a silver 

 tinsel tag ; a topping for a tail ; black ostrich but ; black 

 silk body, ribbed with silver, red silk, and gold tinsel side 

 by side ; a black hackle all the way up, and at shoulder a 

 very long fibred claret hackle. I should think it must be 



