LOCH AWE 39 



scenery. To such spirits, Loch Awe may, 

 with certain distinct cautions, be recommended. 

 There is more chance for anglers, now, in Scotch 

 lochs than in most Scotch rivers. The lochs 

 cannot so easily be netted, lined, polluted, and 

 otherwise made empty and ugly, like the Border 

 streams. They are farther off from towns and 

 tourists, though distance is scarcely a complete 

 protection. The best lochs for yellow trout are 

 decidedly those of Sutherland. There are no 

 railways, and there are two hundred lochs and 

 more in the Parish of Assynt. There, in June, 

 the angler who is a good pedestrian may actually 

 enjoy solitude, sometimes. There is a loch near 

 Strathnaver, and far from human habitations, where 

 a friend of my own recently caught sixty-five trout 

 weighing about thirtj'-eight pounds. They are 

 numerous and plucky, but not large, though a 

 casual big loch-trout may be taken by trolling. 

 But it is truly a far wa)- to this anonymous lake, 

 and all round the regular fishing inns, like Inchna- 

 dampf and Forsinard there is usually quite a 

 little crowd of anglers. The sport is advertised in 



