THE COMMON TROUT. 197 



rejoicing. Returning ere long with half a dozen 

 more but none so fine we perceived our travel- 

 ling companion our much loved fishing friend 

 lying on that lone shore to all appearance dead I 

 We were rather shocked at this upon the whole, 

 knowing that he had left a wife and family, but on 

 a near approach, we found that he was neither dead 

 nor sleeping, but entranced " awed, delighted, and 

 amazed," by our glorious three-pounder, and had 

 laid himself down enamoured to gaze upon her 

 beauties. We ate her, however, that same night 

 to supper. The bottom of Loch Doulay is in some 

 places soft and mossy, and on one side there is a 

 deep marsh, bordered next the water by a regiment 

 of reeds, and sheltering numerous gulls, grebes, and 

 other water-fowl. Its fish, in general, are some- 

 what inferior to those of the clearer waters of Loch 

 Craggie. 



In another neighbouring piece of water (Loch- 

 ta-Craig), we beg its pardon if we cannot spell 

 aright, we had a shocking bad pen when we wrote 

 our notes, the trout are still more inferior both in 

 size and -condition. Its waters are dark and mossy, 

 and the bottom is in many places covered with 

 mud. Loch Bearnoch, in the same vicinity, is re- 

 ported to contain fish of four pounds. We put 

 them to the test act a green mantle and red pro- 

 fessor but they were non-conformists, rose rather 

 sulkily, and none exceeded a pound and a half. 

 Though not so fine as the Loch Craggies, they are 

 fair fish to look upon, and of great strength for their 

 size. The spots on some specimens were large and 



