JUNE 145 



looked over the array of fly- casts on her 

 counter. So, in short, was every one 

 but myself. "Would you like to go 

 anywhere in particular ? " asked the chief 

 of our two boatmen, as we cast off. The 

 question, in tones as melancholious as you 

 can imagine, meant, "It doesn't matter 

 where we go : we'll not see a trout 

 to-day." 



We went towards the shallows to the 

 north of Queen Mary's Island. That 

 course was taken because, there having 

 been weeks of rain, the loch was high. 

 Mr. Wood and Hubert trolled minnows 

 on the way, and I myself cast flies. By 

 the time we reached the shallows Hubert 

 had caught a trout and a perch ; the flies 

 had not stirred a fish, and no rise had 

 been seen. The first drift on the shallows 

 was equally disappointing. It occupied 

 half-an-hour, during which time we saw 

 not a single rise. The boatmen suggested 

 trolling again, and the minnows were let 

 out. This was quite to my mind. It is 



true that you cannot cast flies comfort- 



10 



