233 



deputed to others, I shall bs pleased to hear from him on the subject at 

 the address he will find at the foot of the Preface of this book. 



The others who denounced me were not nearly so offensive ; but 

 they wrote over initials or other disguise. Even so, should they be 

 disposed to teach me by any such method how to conduct myself as a 

 sportsman, they also are at perfect liberty to communicate with me. 



This is the first opportunity I have had of sending to these gentlemen 

 this intimation ; for, needless to say, it would not have been conveyed 

 by the Editor of Land and Watei\ nor would he give the information 

 which alone could enable me to write to them severally and collectively. 

 I trust, therefore, all those who wrote about me in Land and Water on 

 the 10th and 17th September, 1892, will see this page of my book, or 

 be informed of the invitation it contains. 



The three best salmon killed with rod and fly in Scotland during 

 the autumn season of 1892 have been given as one of 56lb. on the 

 Eden, one of 50lb. on the Spey, and one of 50lb. on the Tweed. The 

 first was 47Mn. in length and 29in. in girth. The Spey fish was 

 caught on the Duke of Richmond and Gordon's water at Fochabers, by 

 the Earl of Winterton, and measured 49in. in length and 28in. in girth. 

 The Tweed fish was caught on the Earl of Home's Birgham lower 

 water, by Colonel the Hon. William Home, and measured 48in. in 

 length and 28in. in girth. 



Loch Leven is perhaps about the most wonderful lake in the world for 

 trout. It is a comparatively small sheet of water, being only about 

 nine miles in extent, but the number of fish taken out of it annually 

 is something marvellous. Records have been carefully kept for the 

 past forty years, and, despite the continual fishing, Loch Leven seems 

 to be a veritable widow's cruse. Some of the best years on this historic 

 loch were 1879, 1880, and 1888. In the first-mentioned year 21,045 

 trout, weighing 16,192lbs., were taken ; in '80, 19,405, weighing 18, 552 

 lbs. ; and in '88, 23,516 fish, scaling 21,074lbs. Last year— 1892— was 

 a very fair season, as the 12,735 trout taken made 16,058lbs. The fish 

 in Loch Leven are fine fellows, and some record baskets have been 

 made on it. For instance, in 1891, in four days, Mr. and Mrs. Laird 

 of London killed 156 trout, weighing 134lbs. A Mr. Nisbet in the 

 fiame number of days got 124 trout, weighing close upon lOOlbs. The 

 fish are of a fine size, but heavy ones are the exception. A five- 

 pounder, killed by Major Barton, was the heaviest taken since 1879. 

 It is said, however, that in the olden days trout of eight and ten pounds 

 have been caught, and there is a legend of an 18-pounder. 



Rent is not charged in Scotland for troutfishing, but the sport entails 

 a vast expenditure of money. 



In the following chapter on Shooting will be found the calculat 

 I made of what is spent annually upon Fishing. 



