178 AN ANGLEK'S SEASON 



feeding is in the valleys? As the red 

 trout, though not always the best to 

 catch, are always the best to eat, we 

 could not think that without thinking 

 also that the more well-nourished a trout 

 is the less palatable it becomes. 



A more important problem may arise 

 on even a cursorary experience of sport 

 on Highland lochs. Are pike objection- 

 able in a trout water ? Here again 

 anglers in general are in no doubt. If 

 you would have trout, you must destroy 

 the pike. That is the general under- 

 standing. It is taken to be a self-evident 

 proposition. That is exactly what it is 

 not. Pike undoubtedly prey upon trout ; 

 but the best trout are to be caught in 

 waters which are haunted by pike. Look 

 at the facts in the fairly-representative 

 region about which we are thinking. 

 Loch Doine, Loch Voil, Loch Lubnaig, 

 and Loch-an-Beie are without pike ; and 

 on any of these waters it is easy in a 

 good day to catch forty trout, which will 

 weigh 10 Ib. Pike are plentiful in Loch 



