236 FISHING GOSSIP. 



in Scotland. It used to be an accepted belief that 

 lochs fished earlier than rivers, but the exceptions to 

 the rule are too numerous and important to leave it 

 much value : for instance, there is Loch Leven, where 

 the fishing can scarcely be said to begin till the latter 

 end of May. There may be a great deal in the fact 

 that Loch Ard, though really in the Highlands, lies on 

 a low level But there is Loch Leven, on about as 

 low a level, and with a rich marly and grassy bottom, 

 and in a flat and warm country, whose fishing does 

 not begin till that of Loch Ard is nearly over ; and 

 there is St. Mary's Loch, in Selkirkshire, 600 feet 

 above the sea, with a hard bottom and amid cold hills, 

 where the fishing (barring frosts) begins as early as in 

 Loch Ard. Be the causes what they may, Loch Ard 

 begins to yield very fair fishing in March, and con- 

 tinues to do so up till the end of May, and sometimes a 

 little later. A good deal, of course, depends on the 

 weather, and especially on whether winter has lin- 

 gered long, and has been " open " or " hard." The 

 winter of 1863-4 was open and early that of 1864-5 

 was hard and late ; so that the fishing in Loch Ard 

 was a month later last year than in the year preced- 

 ing, and is still later this year, when winter may be 

 said not to have begun till March the trouts being 

 in April of these two years scarcely in such good 

 condition or such good taking temper as they gener- 

 ally are in March. 



