4 FISH AND FISHING IK SCOTLAND. 



wafting-, pure, refreshing, exhilarating, life-restoring gale, which. 

 Wows over Priestlaw on a summer morn." 



Away, then, I said, to the lonely glens and mountain tops of 

 the true angling country, Scotland, in fancy, at least, if not in 

 reality. I will describe, I said, angling in Scotland, as I have 

 experienced it. 



I say this without meaning to disparage English rivers and 

 angling in them. I see, in fact, that, under certain circumstances, 

 some excellent trout are to he caught in rivers, such as I have 

 described. But the angler would, I think, require to be differ- 

 ently equipped, and his materiel more artistically finished than 

 is requisite on Scottish rivers and lakes. There is first the per- 

 mission to be obtained ; next, as to equipment, long waterproof 

 boots, to wade and splash through the marshy meadows ; the 

 finest tackle, a small salmon-rod, with several spare tops ; 

 abundance of live minnows of all sizes, and a choice of flies. 

 The small streams and rivulets called becks, in the north of Eng- 

 land, and no doubt in the south, abound with good trout of at 

 least two kinds. Cautious fishing wdth worm or minnows, 

 dropped very cunningly just over the bank, is sure to succeed. 

 I have practised this often in Scotland. But of all this I shall 

 speak more hereafter. In the meantime, let me dismiss, as; 

 briefly as may be : I., what kinds of trout and fish of the salmon 

 kind are to be caught in Scotland by the angler, it being best for 

 him to know what he is to expect ; II., what materiel and 

 equipment will best suit him, and how he is to proceed; III., -and 

 finally, conduct him to the rivers and lakes themselves, and there 

 discuss with him many nice and difficult questions, which closet 

 naturalists, learned though they be, have failed to solve. 



1st. Of the kinds of trout and of salmon which are caught in 

 Scotland, and in the rivers and lakes of the Border country. 



Although it be easy enough in general to distinguish at a 

 glance a fresh-water trout from a sea trout, and both these from 

 the true salmon, more especially when all three have attained 

 their adult condition, yet this kind of knowledge, though highly 

 practical and useful, being, in fact, what constitutes the skill of 

 the experienced fishmonger, will be found far behind that which 

 the angler requires or desires to know in respect of the -beauteous 



