392 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



ten pounds, and its Irish taste gave rise to much specula- 

 tion. 



These great loch-trout are becoming more shy every year. 

 Last season my sons and I tried them with three-ply, and 

 even single gut, as they seemed scared by gimp. It is certain 

 that they came at the bait less cautiously, and seized it with 

 greater avidity, than when the casting-line was gimp. Out of 

 seven, which we landed in four days, only one was fixed by 

 gimp tackle ; and strange to say, it was the only ferox which 

 took the phantom parr, but it was hooked foul. All our other 

 fish ran either at a natural parr or at a small burn-trout, the 

 parr being the favourite. There was generally a phantom on 

 one of the rods, oftenest of moderate, but now and then of 

 large size. 



