292 FISHES. 



The trout of these two lochs are in shape and colour like the 

 generality of Highland loch trout elsewhere, and are red-fleshed 

 and excellent eating. Those of the Peerie Water may have 

 slightly the advantage in average of size, judging from an 

 afternoon's fishing, when somewhat over two dozen averaged 

 rather over half a pound. 



The loch of Saviskail, however, differs somewhat from the 

 foregoing ; for whereas they are situated high up on the hill, 

 Saviskail is only a few feet above sea-level, shallow, and sur- 

 rounded entirely by cultivated ground. It is also connected 

 with the sea by a burn some hundred yards long, and here 

 again the usual mill obtains. The bottom is muddy, and 

 there are considerable patches of reeds along the sides, a great 

 resort of wild ducks. 



At the time of our visit in 1883 there had been little rain, 

 and the loch was as clear as glass. Covering the muddy 

 bottom as with a carpet was a sort of weed, like felt, cracked 

 and upturned in places, as one sees muddy puddles on the road- 

 side after a quick drought, and it was probably under these 

 upturned pieces of weed that the trout lodged. The trout 

 themselves were beautiful to look at and good to eat, though 

 perhaps hardly as good in the latter respect as those of the 

 other lochs. In colour they resembled sea-trout, and the sport 

 they gave was excellent. One day, after some heavy rain, we 

 went to fish the loch with a friend, and found that the dis- 

 coloured water had quite destroyed the fine appearance of our 

 pet trout. All their beautiful silvery look was gone ; but this 

 was probably owing to their power of changing their own 

 colour to adapt themselves to their present surroundings. 



There seemed to be no trout of any very large size, 2 J Ibs. 

 being the largest we got, nor could we hear of many of much 

 greater weight ever having been taken. This was probably 

 owing to the comparatively small size of the loch, and its 

 shallowness, for nowhere did this exceed 6 feet, and that only 

 in one small spot; its general depth would be about 3 feet. 

 Another reason, however, for there being no large fish might 

 be that the burns in which they had to spawn for the most part 

 were very shallow, and of course any large fish would be seen 

 and taken out? by the natives. 



