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AUTUMN ANGLING ON THE LYON. 



WHEN tenant of the shootings of Garth, in Perthshire, in the 

 summer of 1858, I had obtained leave, through the interest of 

 my kind landlord with the liberal proprietor, to fish salmon 

 over nearly the whole of the river Lyon. The privilege, so 

 freely accorded, was no common boon ; for in addition to 

 the high rate at which salmon -angling is now held, this 

 river flowed through a singularly picturesque district of oak- 

 wood, moorland, and mountain ; while the well-separated and 

 finely-defined pools gave ample scope for a full and powerful 

 cast. 



As comparatively few of the larger fish ascended the higher 

 waters of the Lyon, I seldom wandered above the heavy 

 streams, where the best salmon, when in the river, were sure 

 to lodge. The upper stretch was, however, to many, the more 

 tempting half ; for in addition to the romantic scenery, each 

 good pool or stream teemed with keen and lively grilse. 



Garth House was about six miles from the nearest upper 

 salmon-pool of the beat. The remaining ones, at longer or 

 shorter distances from each other, extended some miles higher. 

 After them, a stretch of very moderate water ended in the fine 

 grilse-casts above Meggernie Bridge. 



When the days were long and fine, the walk along the 

 Lyon's banks and braes was wonderfully pleasant ; but towards 

 the " hint o' hairst," as the weather began to break and the 



