LOCHS. 15 



nicer and more gentlemanly craft, where skill and talent 

 take the precedence of brutality and ignorance. The 

 harm is incalculable, far beyond even its profits ; for 

 the fish thereby injured and deteriorated greatly exceed 

 the number taken. 



And now, speaking of lochs and the mode of angling 

 therein, from which we have made a tedious diver- 

 tisement, it is notable that they breed less cunning fish 

 than rivers do, on which account the fly used may be 

 larger and more gaudy. Worms, unless at night, are 

 generally an unsuccessful bait ; the gut to which the 

 hook is attached being readily discernible in standing 

 waters, unless itself in motion. Minnows are a good 

 evening morsel, especially to large trout on the look- 

 out. From a boat, small par or trout themselves do 

 rare execution, when used on a sunny day with a long 

 line and lead. In this manner the biggest fish are 

 taken, some weighing as much as thirty pounds. But 

 of these monsters we shall treat hereafter. 



LOCH . 



A mountain shadow lieth on 



Its mirror dark and massy ; 

 The red late sunray streams across 

 O'er solemn wood and quiet moss, 

 O'er sward and hillock grassy. 



It tinges with a crimson light 



The water sleeping under ; 

 That calm, clear water seldom wakes 

 Calm when the forest pine-tree quakes 

 Calm 'mid the very thunder. 



A ruin on its islet stands, 



The walls with ivy pendant ; 

 Its grey stones crumbling underneath 

 Peer thro' the arbitrary wreath 

 Of that untrain'd ascendant. 



