184 AUTUMNS IN AKGYLESHIRE 



where the practised eye takes in the possibilities 

 of every part of each successive reach or run. 

 " Chuck-and-chance-it fishing"! is the carping 

 comment of the accomplished dry-fly trout-stalker 

 of the south, to whose superior skill and mastery 

 of the craft I bow with an awe and admiration 

 entirely true and unfeigned. But although I may 

 not have marked the three - pounder sucking 

 down olive duns among the cresses, or seen the 

 feeding fish lying near the surface, I must demur 

 to the cynical description of my proceedings. 

 Chuck I do, and chance it I must, to a certain 

 extent ; but there is all the difference in the world 

 between the light and careless manner in which 

 I rapidly move along some pebbly shallow or 

 glassy reach, and the loving care with which 

 I dwell upon the interstices among the rocks, 

 the rippling, moderately strong runs, and other 

 likely spots where instinct and experience tell 

 me that trout are sure to rise. For sport and 

 real fishing give me the river-bank, a clear stage, 

 and no human companion, except perhaps at the 

 midday lunch, until the close of the day. 



But I am speaking of sport, and as a fisher- 

 man only. If I had not fished in lochs, I should 

 have missed some of the most lovely scenes and 

 enjoyable days I have ever spent. My mind 

 recalls pictures of Loch Awe in the late spring, 

 when the large globe ranunculus is in flower, of 

 island, castle, rock, and wood, and Ben Cruachan 



