SCOTLAND. 153 



the neighbourhood, and there is likewise a good and comfortable 

 inn for lodging and refreshments matters of some vital import- 

 ance in this wild and rugged country. 



The river Shine, which flows out of Loch Shine, and has only a 

 run of about seven miles as a mere river, is a place very much 

 frequented by angling tourists. It contains trout of a large size, 

 salmon, the salmo Jerox, and char. There are two falls in the 

 river ; and it is below these that the angling is the most fruitful of 

 sport. The loch is twenty-four miles in extent, 'and is connected 

 with a considerable number of other smaller sheets of water, all 

 of which are worthy of the notice of the tourist. A boat is requi- 

 site to fish them properly. 



^The river Helmsdale is twenty miles in extent, and is connected 

 with several sheets of still water. It is full of large trout and 

 splendid pike. Some of these lochs have an abundance of fine 

 char. Tnis is an excellent spot for rod-fishing. 



A few miles to the north we fall in with the higher rivulets of 

 the Halladale. which empties its waters into the North Sea. It 

 has a run of twenty miles. There are several fishing lochs in the 

 vicinity ^ The river Strathy runs parallel with the Halladale for 

 some distance. It is also a very prolific stream. It contains 

 salmon grilse, and very large trout. 



In keeping by the sea-coast, we meet with the Naver, which 

 arises out of a loch of the same name of about seven miles in 

 extent. Here are likewise salmon, grilse, and trout in abundance. 

 This river has the Mallart, the Skekrick Sum, and the Langdalt 

 Burn, for its feeders. 



There flows at no great distance the river Borgie, which springs 

 out of Loch Craigie and Loch Looghal. The fishing ^is here first-rate 

 for salmon, grilse, and fine yellow trout. The Kinloch, the Ho-pe, 

 and the Strathmore streams are all good fishable waters, both for 

 salmon and trout ; and on the western side of the country, along- 

 its entire range of coast, there is a continued chain of lakes in 

 which all kinds of rich and valuable fish are to be found. To 

 enumerate them would fill several pages. Ely-fishing and bottom- 

 fishing can be had in all of them; and those who are fond of 

 the minnow, will find this a splendid district for their peculiar 

 branch of sport. 



The county of Caithness is comparatively flat, and not so fruitful 

 of the wild and the sublime as the regions we have just passed 

 through. We have the rivers Langwell and Berridale ; the first 

 ftbo^t eight, and the latter about fifteen miles in extent. The 

 river Wick has a good repute amon^ trout fishers. It flows 

 through Loch Scharmlet, which contains both large trout and 

 pike. But the chief stream in this neighbourhood is the Thurso, 

 which falls into the ocean at the town of the same name. In its 

 higher waters there is beautiful trout and salmon fishing with the 

 rod. The Forss is also a good stream. 



Turning our faces now towards the south, we shall meek with a 



