The Moor and the Loch: Containing Minute Instructions in All Highland Sports : with Wanderings Over Crag and Correl, "Flood and Fell"

Front Cover
W. Blackwood, 1851 - 406 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 222 - I have seen instances of this that I could hardly otherwise have credited. One day I got within about sixty yards of three ducks asleep upon the shore; the wind was blowing very strong, direct from me to them, a thick hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was quite bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the distant shot through it. In making the attempt, I rustled one of the twigs — up went the three heads to the full stretch; but when I had remained quiet for about five minutes, they...
Page 195 - ... as they enter or leave the pool. Should a trout seize the bait, a little time may be given to allow it to gorge, which it will most likely do without much ceremony. If large, care must be taken to prevent it from getting to the top of the lyn, which may probably harbor another expectant. The best plan is, if possible, to persuade it to descend into the pool below. Having deposited the half-pounder in your creel, you will now crawl upon hands and knees, just so near the top of the lyn as will...
Page 220 - ... birds are much more likely to see him and take wing. Never fire over the bush, as you are almost certain to be perceived whenever you raise your head : more good shots are lost to an experienced hand by a rapid jerk, not keeping a sufficient watch for stragglers, and over-anxiety to fire, than by any other way. Having succeeded in getting the sitting shot, the fowl, especially if they have not seen from whence it comes, will rise perpendicularly in the air, and you are not unlikely to have a...
Page 207 - When the fly is dropped in the centre of the ring, the instant after the trout has belled up, it is ten times more likely to rise again than if the fly touched the water at ever so short a distance. . . . Another hint to the young angler is to mind what he is about when he approaches the still deeps of the river. Many are apt to pass them by altogether. . , . Perhaps the best test of a finished performer is the manner in which he fishes these dead, deep places, especially if there is little wind...
Page 169 - Loch, pp. 56, 57Here are good observations on the introduction of pike to keep down the shoals of small, ill-fed trout, with a striking instance of the voracity of the ravenous luce : — ' Many people think a loch injured by pike : on the contrary, unless very numerous, as in Loch Menteith, I have seldom seen one much worth fishing without them ; always excepting those where the Loch Awe trout or gillaroo are to be found. If a man prefers killing eight or nine dozen, with scarcely a half-pounder...
Page 219 - ... themselves by raising a head or flapping a wing. "He must now take one or two large marks, that he will be sure to know again, as close to the birds as possible ; and also another, about two or three hundred yards immediately above, further inland. Having done this, let him take a very wide circle and come round upon his inland mark. He must now walk as if treading upon glass ; the least rustle of a bough, or crack of a piece of rotten wood under his feet, may spoil all, especially if the weather...
Page 44 - ... wilder ; the best sport with the old harts is, therefore, obtained at the beginning of the season. They generally keep together ; and when their stately mien and branching antlers are seen in the distance it is enough to inspirit the most apathetic ; but when told to cock his double-barrelled rifle I could well excuse a novice for being scarcely able to obey. When there are hinds in the herd they often present themselves between you and the unsuspecting harts ; but even should they be at a distance...
Page 222 - ... sixty yards of three ducks asleep upon the shore; the wind was blowing very strong, direct from me to them, a thick hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was quite bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the distant shot through it. In making the attempt, I rustled one of the twigs — up went the three heads to the full stretch; but when I had remained quiet for about five minutes, they again placed their bills under their wings. Upon a second trial, the slight noise was unfortunately...
Page 280 - I had, unfortunately, so placed myself as only to command the nest-tree, never doubting that it would light on this before it settled upon the nest — but I was out in my reckoning ; as soon as it had tolerably re-assured itself, it rose perpendicularly in the air, and came down upon its nest like a stone. The manner in which I was concealed prevented my getting V a flying shot ; so nothing remained but to fire through the nest, which proved a sufficient defence, as the kite flew away, and never...
Page 166 - Like battue-shooting, the steeple-chase is a bastard sport, an attempt to graft foreign customs on good English pastimes; both are only fit for the emasculated creatures, who have not sense or stamina enough to endure a day's toil in the legitimate pursuit of beasts and birds whom Nature seems to have designed for the purpose of testing the skill and resolution of men in the pursuit and capture of them.

Bibliographic information