44 ANGLING SKETCHES 



weather, or to my own lack of skill. Not that lochs 

 generally require much artifice in the angler. To 

 sink the flies deep, and move them with short jerks, 

 appears, now and then, to be efificacious. There 

 has been some controversy about Loch Awe 

 trouting ; this is as favourable a view of the sport 

 as I can honestly give. It is not excellent, but, 

 thanks to the great beauty. of the scenery, the 

 many points of view on so large and indented a 

 lake, the charm of the wood ■ and wild flowers, 

 Loch Awe isfwell worth a visit from persons who 

 do not pitch their hopes too high. 



Loch Awe would have contented me less had 

 I been less fortunate in my boatman. It is often 

 said that tradition has died out in the Highlands ; 

 it is living yet. 



After three days of north wind and failure, it 

 occurred to me that my boatman might know the 

 local folklore — the fairy tales and traditions. As 

 a rule, tradition is a purely professional part of a 

 guide's stock-in-trade, but the angler who had my 

 barque in his charge proved to be a fresh fountain 

 of legend. His own county is not Argyleshire, but 



