248 ANGLING. 



Liverpool, was for many seasons an assiduous and 

 successful troller of this species ; and indeed it ap- 

 pears that any persevering sportsman is almost cer- 

 tain with proper tackle to obtain specimens in 

 Loch Awe weighing from 10 to 15 pounds. 



If hooked upon tackle of moderate strength, they 

 afford excellent sport ; but the general method of 

 fishing for them is almost as well adapted for catch- 

 ing sharks as trout ; the angler being apparently 

 more anxious to have it in his power to state that 

 he has caught a fish of a certain monstrous size, 

 than to enjoy the pleasure of the sport itself. How- 

 ever, to the credit of both parties, it may be stated, 

 that the very strongest tackle is sometimes snapped 

 in two by its first tremendous springs. The ordi- 

 nary method of fishing for this king of trouts is 

 with a powerful rod, from a boat rowing at the rate 

 of from three to four miles an hour, the lure a com- 

 mon trout from three to eight inches in length, 

 baited upon six or eight salmon hooks, tied back to 

 back upon stout gimp, assisted by two swivels, 

 and the wheel-line strong whip-cord. Yet all this, 

 in the first impetuous efforts of the fish to regain 

 its liberty, is frequently carried away for ever into 

 the crystal depths of Loch Awe ! 



When in their highest health and condition, and 

 indeed during the whole of the time in which they 

 are not employed in the operation of spawning, 

 these fish will scarcely ever rise at a fly. We once 

 saw, however, what we regarded as a middle-sized 

 Salmo ferox (a fine fish weighing between six and 

 seven pounds), taken with a fly by our friend Dr. 



