66 A.XGLIXG SKETCHES 



took a four-pound trout there with the 11}-, If 

 such trout exist in Borlan, it is hard to explain 

 the presence of the innumerable fr\-. One would 

 expect the giants of the deep to keep down their 

 population. Xot far off is another small lake, 

 Loch Awe, which has in\-isible ad\-antages o\-er 

 Loch Borlan, yet there the trout are, or were, 

 ' fat and fair of flesh,' like Tamlane in the ballad. 

 Wherefore are the trout in Loch Tummell so big 

 and strong, from one to fi\-e pounds, and so scarce, 

 while those in Loch A'\"e are numerous and small ? 

 One occasionall)- sees examples of how quickly 

 trout will increase in weight, and \\-hat curious 

 habits they will adopt. In a count\- of south- 

 western Scotland there is a large village, popu- 

 lated by a keenly devoted set of anglers, who miss 

 no opportunit)-. Withm a quarter of a mile of the 

 x'illage is a small tarn, very picturesqueh- situated 

 among low hills, and pro\-ided with the ver\- tiniest 

 feeder and outflow. There is a sluice at the out- 

 flow, and, for some reason, the farmer used to 

 let most of the water out, in the summer of c\-er\- 

 \-ear. In winter the tarn is used b}- the curling 



