On the
other hand, a year or two ago, a beginner took a four-pound trout there
with the fly. If such trout exist in Borlan, it is hard to explain the
presence of the innumerable fry. One would expect the giants of the deep
to keep down their population. Not far off is another small lake, Loch
Awe, which has invisible advantages over 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
five pounds, and so scarce, while those in Loch Awe are numerous and
small? One occasionally sees examples of how quickly trout will increase
in weight, and what curious habits they will adopt. In a county of south-
western Scotland there is a large village, populated by a keenly devoted
set of anglers, who miss no opportunity. Within a quarter of a mile of
the village is a small tarn, very picturesquely situated among low hills,
and provided with the very tiniest feeder and outflow. There is a sluice
at the outflow, and, for some reason, the farmer used to let most of the
water out, in the summer of every year. In winter the tarn is used by
the curling club. It is not deep, has rather a marshy bottom, and many
ducks, snipe, and wild-fowl generally dwell among the reeds and marish
plants of its sides.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61