384 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



new beasts that cam' doon the Orchy frae Loch Tulla, that 

 my Lord Breadalbane pat in." We made small bones of him, 

 as he was only four pounds weight. Got two more trout, 

 rather above a pound, on our way home. 



May 5th. I had now only one more day to spare, and 

 was disappointed at being unable to devote it to the west end 

 of the loch, at " the foord," decidedly the best trolling-ground 

 for the large fish. It was a squally, showery morning, so I 

 waited to see if the afternoon would clear up. There was 

 no change, but as the wind was westerly I ordered out the 

 boat about four o'clock. Trolled down three miles, when I 

 had " a rug." Landed the trout in a few minutes only two 

 pounds. Crossed over and searched the Inistrinich shore on 

 our return. Unsuccessful, till we reached a very weedy creek 

 nearly opposite Cladich, which Sandy was anxious to avoid. 

 But to me it looked so tempting that I made him turn in, 

 although he cast many a rueful look at his great enemies, the 

 weeds. About half-way down the little bay, a strong lively 

 fish seized the bait ; we got clear of the confined water with 

 some difficulty, landed, and played him from shore. Although 

 he only weighed six pounds, I have seldom taken out a more 

 high-mettled trout. The evening was bitterly cold, so we did 

 not bait again, but pulled straight for the harbour of Cladich, 

 and next day drove over the hill to Inverary for a short 

 sojourn there. Caution : Always weigh the large fish your- 

 self, or see them weighed, when at a fishing inn, otherwise they 

 will probably weigh two pounds heavier down-stairs than up. 



When the loch has been thoroughly flooded, you must wait 

 till it falls in considerably, as the large fish especially are 

 glutted with food, and lazy, after continued wet weather. 

 Upon the water diminishing, they soon become more alert 

 than before the rain. 



The best time of year for the salmo-ferox is the end of 

 April, May, and the beginning of June. They are very dor- 

 mant all July and August, particularly if the weather be 



