90 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



waterfall, in overcoming which, a large fish runs the 

 risk of falling either among bare rocks or shallows, par 

 are seldom or never caught : and yet the sea trout and 

 whitling run up without danger, and spawn in im- 

 mense numbers many miles on, through the whole ex- 

 tent of Glenartney ; nay, it is well known throughout 

 Perthshire, that the Rochil is the best stream in the 

 whole county for these fish, and that a dozen or more, 

 averaging three pounds each, may be taken by a single 

 rod among the highest pools in a proper season. If, 

 then, par are the males of the sea trout and whitling, 

 or mules betwixt them and the common trout, of which 

 there are vast quantities in this stream, why are they 

 not to be found among the innumerable spawn beds 

 along its course ? A few, surely, might remain above, 

 as well as under the point alluded to, and yet we our- 

 selves have never been able to capture one individual, 

 although we have angled there over and over again. 



But a fact somewhat similar may be noted, nearer 

 Edinburgh, on the stream which runs into the Forth, 

 below Cramond, and also on the Esk, close to Mus- 

 selburgh, both of which are visited by a variety of sea 

 trout and whitlings. From the former stream we have 

 taken them in considerable numbers ; and, although 

 angling with a small fly, we never caught or saw a single 

 par. Also, at Musselburgh, the same thing has hap- 

 pened to us. Salmon, however, are said sometimes to 

 ascend these waters ; we have heard of one being caught 

 with the rod above Kirkliston. This, however, on 

 further inquiry, turned out to be a large common trout, 

 bred in the long still pools below that village, and where 

 overgrown fish are not unfrequently taken with the 

 leister, near the head of Almond, during the spawning 

 season. Salmon have certainly been caught close to 

 the sea, and in the neighbouring bays, but we doubt 



