118 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



Mr Leister and his companions were fortunately 

 not destined to experience the calamity complained 

 of by their English brethren. On the contrary, their 

 very outset was conducted under a beautiful dis- 

 charge of the watery element; and on arriving at 

 Loch Awe, where it was intended their operations 

 should commence, it proved to one and all of our 

 anglers a matter of no little gratification to discover 

 the Orchy and other surrounding waters desirably 

 flooded and trimmed out for sport. A large salmon 

 was quickly taken by Tom Otter, above the kirk at 

 Dalmally, and Jack Leister was so far successful as 

 to load his pannier to the lid with honest-sized trout. 

 Nothing, however, worthy of notice was achieved 

 either by May-fly or the worthy Doctor, who, it 

 may be remarked, went to work in an indolent, lei- 

 surely, and over-presumptuous style, without deem- 

 ing it worth their patience to exercise any degree 

 of craft or ability. 



The day following was spent by all four in troll- 

 ing from a boat for the salmo ferox, of which re- 

 doubtable species of fish they had the misfortune to 

 Jose three fine specimens, securing only a sorry in- 

 dividual of five pound weight, along with a score 

 or so of excellent yellow trout, averaging in their 

 length from twelve to fifteen inches. The escape of 

 the larger fish was owing principally to the inter- 

 vention of a strong variety of water-weed, along 

 the nettings of which the boat at the time of their 

 seizing the bait happened to be directed. To this 



