THE FROTHAY. 47 



shoulders. In explanation of this phenomenon it is 

 said that the fish in whose mouth Peter discovered the 

 tribute money was a haddock ; that in extricating the 

 coin, he grasped the fish so roughly as to bruise it, and 

 that since the day of that miracle every haddock has, 

 in these two blotches, borne the marks of the apostolic 

 finger and thumb. The rain continued during the 

 whole of the following day ; and we were confined to 

 the house, except for about an hour in the evening, 

 during a bright gleam, when we shot three hares and 

 two brace and a half of teal. 



The third morning being tolerably fine, though 

 varied by an occasional shower, we drove to a river 

 called the Frothay, to fish for salmon. This river is 

 only about a mile in length, running from a fresh-water 

 loch down into the sea. It would be a most excellent 

 salmon river, were it not for the fishermen at the 

 mouth, who net it so indefatigably that scarcely a fish 

 can ascend the stream except during a flood. At such 

 times, if there be a great body of water, they come up 

 in great numbers, and the very best sport may be had. 

 Throughout its' whole extent it is one continued 

 succession of rapids and falls ; the stream bowling its 

 way along a rocky bed, huge boulders constantly 

 impeding its course, and high cliffs rising abruptly on 

 either side ; so abruptly indeed, and so close to the 

 water's edge, that the angler can in some places only 

 make his way very cautiously, by steps cut in the rock. 

 Altogether from the bold character of the scenery, as 

 well as from the rapidity and turbulence of its waters, 

 the Frothay forms the beau ideal of a Highland stream, 

 and I am acquainted with no river along whose course 

 I could ramble with greater enjoyment. 



After putting up our cattle, a pair of Highland 



