stillness of the passage. Unlike a steamer, the "track boat" has no paddles to break the dead silence, the horses are too far in advance to allow of the sound of their footfall, and all glides on with a noiseless smoothness which must be experienced to be understood. The same effect seemed to be produced upon the passengers as when entering a railway tunnel, viz., a stop to conversation beyond an occasional remark, more than once alluding to the sleepy sensation caused by our mode of conveyance. No one can appreciate quiet and tranquillity more than ourselves; but in this instance it was carried to an unpleasant extreme, from which our detention in the locks with the sound of rushing water afforded an agreeable relief. Our passage reminded us of the fabulous account of that of departed spirits to the Stygian shores. The Crinan canal, notwithstanding the great saving of time and danger effected by it and the consequent traffic, has never realized the enormous expenditure attending its construction. We here give an extract from a statistical account: "It was undertaken in 1793, by subscription of shareholders, under an Act of Parliament, and was opened on July 18th, 1801. The original estimate by the late Mr. Rennie was £63,678, and the sum subscribed by the proprietors, and first expended upon it, amounted to upwards of £108,000. This sum, however, proving to be totally insufficient for its completion-chiefly in consequence of the intersection of the line by whinstone rock and peat moss-subsequent advances were made by Government, at different periods, under the authority of Parliament, to the extent of nearly £75,000; to secure which sum, the canal was transferred on mortgage to the Barons of Exchequer in Scotland, whose functions have since devolved on the Lords of the Treasury. The latest advance was made in 1817, and the Act which authorized it provided that it should be expended under the superintendence of the commissioners for the Caledonian canal, who, at the desire of the Treasury, undertook to continue the management of the canal after the expenditure of the grant; and under their direction it has subsequently remained. The canal is about nine miles long, and contains fifteen locks, thirteen of which are ninety-six feet long, twenty-four feet wide, and about twelve feet deep, and two are 108 feet long, and twenty-seven wide. It is navigable by vessels of 200 tons burden. Of the locks, eight are used in ascending from Loch Gilp, or Ardrishaig, at the east end, and seven in descending to Crinan at the west end, where there is a convenient wharf and slip. It is chiefly used by small coasting and fishing vessels, and by the steam-boats which ply between Inverness and the Clyde, which are made inconveniently narrow to pass through it. Since this canal was first opened to the public, the revenues arising from the tolls have, on an average, been scarcely sufficient to cover the annual expenses of the establishment and of the repairs; and no dividend or interest has ever been paid, either to the original proprietors or to Government. The revenue of it during 1838 was £1,903, and the expenditure £1,671, leaving a surplus of £232. As respects balance, this is a favourable statement compared with former years, in which, on an average, the expenditure and receipts were nearly equal. In 1839 the dues received amounted to £1,950, of which £322 arose from steam-boats; the expenditure during the same year was £1,833. The trade during the preceding fifteen years increased, but not above £200 or £300 on an average of several years; so that in a financial view the Crinan and Caledonian were much upon a par. The dilapidated state of the works, the frequent insufficiency of the depth of water, the difficult nature of some parts of the navigation, and the absence of many facilities which might be afforded, were believed to be the principal causes of the canal not being more frequented. But contemporaneously with the great recent repairs on the Caledonian canal, some important repairs were made on the Crinan canal. The gates of some of the locks were removed; the original depth at places where deposits had been made by burns was restored; and an additional depth of nearly two feet in the eastern entrance through the harbour of Ardrishaig was gained, thereby greatly diminishing the detention of vessels arriving from Loch Fyne at low states of the tide. A great reduction also was made on the dues and the harbour rates. The immediate consequence was a great increase in traffic. In the year ending 30th April, 1851, the number of passages through the canal was 2,237, comprising 60 by steamers, 1,174 by sailing vessels, and 459 by boats; and the amount of dues was £2,152. In the year ending 30th April, 1853, the number of passages was 1,870, comprising 491 by steamers, 854 by sailing vessels, and 525 by boats; and the amount of dues was £1,625. The decrease, however, arose not from any deficiency in the works, but entirely from extensive and temporary causes. In the latter year the total income was £1,958, and the expenditure £1,888. In the autumn of 1847 the Royal family, on their way to and from Ardverikie, were conveyed through the Crinan canal." Besides the great outlay attending the original construction and subsequent expenses for repair, &c., of this canal, mentioned in the foregoing account, we must take into consideration the very extensive damage done by the disruption of the embankment mentioned in a former number. The day after our excursion to Crinan we paid another visit to the canal, to fish it for the last time before our departure on the following morning. The breeze, which was insufficient in the first instance, soon lulled altogether, leaving the water a dead calm, in which surrounding objects became reflected as in a mirror, under which circumstances we laid down our rod, and quietly seated ourselves upon the bank, in expectation of a better state of things. A considerable time elapsed, during which two of the angling brotherhood passed us, one of them making to us the very true assertion, that the fish were not rising very well. We observed many feeding on the insects which dropped from the trees on the opposite side; but they were not artificial and attached to gut, which made all the difference. After a time-our patience was rewarded: a breeze sprang up, and with it a trout also, which we managed to encreel just before the "track boat" passed us, crowded with passengers on their way to Crinan. The taking fly to-day appeared to be a black hackle, which we had attached as a bob, and which one trout just managed to evade, after slightly pricking and showing himself. Having a fair sight of him, as he coiled himself round in the water before descending to his weedy retreat, we feel quite justified in declaring him a very fine fish, without making a guess by angler's weight, which is seldom deficient. We found our trout to-day, although pink-fleshed, of a darker hue externally, and inferior in condition to those we had taken earlier in the season. During our crippled condition, already described as caused by a son of Crispin, a very heavy spate came, and a good many sea-trout were killed in the burn already mentioned by those fishing with worm in the turbid water. As the spate subsided, the sport subsided also, we determined, however, to make a trial even in a limping state. By sacrificing appearance to comfort, or, we might say, necessity, and mutilating an old boot, we managed to present ourselves on the scene of action, and to become personally acquainted with the sea-trout; and of all we had previously caught, we never saw any so deeply coloured in the flesh, and so rich in flavour, in both surpassing many grilse, and even salmon, that have come under our notice. To fish the upper pools in this burn with fly is almost an impracti cable matter, being so much encumbered with wood There are, however, some good pools below the "Bishop's-bridge" (so called from being in close proximity to his residence) where the mimic insect may be brought into operation. Flies recommended for this water should not be too large, except in a heavy spate. Perhaps a No. 6 Adlington hook will be found large enough, and may be dressed as follows: 1. Body Orange wool, or floss silk. Wings Drake's wing. Tail: Two fibres of drake's wing. The above fly may be also dressed with a red body, instead of orange. 2. Body: Green wool warped with gold twist. Legs: Black cock's hackle. Wings: Landrail's wing. Tail: Two fibres of a yellow feather. This fly is said to kill well in Loch Awe when there is not much breeze. There is another burn flowing below the bishop's residence and chapel, containing some good pools, one especially immediately below the school-house. At the junction, again, of this burn with the one already described there is a fine pool, and a few yards further down another, partially overhung by a tree, in which we killed a sea-trout at our second cast. There is a deep hole nearly opposite the battery, a favourite resort of sea-trout, which should be fished at low water, when the tide is flowing. There is certainly one great drawback in the way of a net near the mouth of this burn, which naturally obstructs the greater number of ascending fish. If this hindrance were removed, the rod-fishing would, no doubt, be greatly improved. On the 7th of September, at 8 a.m., we, with our goods and chattels (comprising a retriever that makes himself an universal favourite wherever he goes), started by 'bus for Ardrishaig. The morning was anything but promising, heavy rain and blustering high wind prevailing to a most disagreeable extent. We had arranged to start by the Mary Jane, whose time for departure from Ardrishaig was eight o'clock, U being, however, considerably later on alternate days, after coming from Inverary. We had a most tedious time of waiting, as, in addition to this being one of the days in question, she had got her stern aground in the soft sand off Inverary-quay, and had remained from 6 a.m. (her right time of departure) until 7.20, applying all her steam, without being able to stir her keel, while the remainder of the vessel was afloat. At last, she came steaming np to Ardrishaig-quay, where, after going on board, we were detained for a considerable time in consequence of the numbers of boxes of herrings to be shipped, amounting, for some time past, to from five hundred to seven hundred. It was half-past ten before we started, and proceeded without further detention till we reached Tarbet, where we experienced the contrast of the calm and sheltered natural harbour after the tolerably rough Loch Fyne. Here we left the Mary Jane (which remained another hour taking in herring boxes, &c.), having previously obtained tickets from the steward to proceed to Rothesay, by the Iona. We wandered about Tarbet, the appearance of which is somewhat altered since our last landing there, by several good shops and the erection of a bank and handsome residences. After staying somewhat above two hours, we started from the inn by what is termed the coach, but is, in fact, a long green open cart, on springs, with four wheels, and a pair of horses. This conveyance is capable of holding eight or ten passengers; fortunately, however, on this occasion, we only consisted of four besides the driver, or it would have been very doubtful where the luggage could have been stowed, as, in addition to our own, there was a commercial man with six large cases, which had all been conveyed by our 'bus in the morning from Lochgilphead. The boy who drove the green conveyance heeded not the fact that there was too much weight for the springs, which were placed in jeopardy, nor the feelings of the passengers, but drove with all his might, bumping and thumping us down to the quay, to await the advent of the Iona, which arrived with an immense human freight in addition to which was a flock of sheep and some interesting specimens of dead animals, both loose and packed in cases, in the way of grouse and other game, despatched as presents from Tarbet to various parts of the United Kingdom. We experienced a considerable swell in crossing from Tarbet to Ardlamont-point, after which getting into the smooth water of the Kyles of Bute, in the course of another hour, at 3.30 p.m. we reached Rothesay-quay, crowded, as usual, to see the arrival of our gigantic steamer. *NOTE.-The herring fishery had been so productive for some time past that there had been shipped on many days as many as nine hundred boxes, containing about thirteen hundred herrings each. There were upwards of one thousand smacks on the station. [Concluded. "HERE'S SPORT INDEED!" BY LORD WILLIAM LENNOX. CHAP. LX. SHAKSPEARE, After the joyousness of summer comes October, with its destructive winds, shaking down sufficient foliage to strew the far-famed valley of Vallambrosa, and reminding us that the year is fast falling "into the sere and yellow leaf." Nevertheless, although we can no longer witness the floral beauties of the garden, nor hear the note of the linnet or the lark, we may still enjoy the delight of a stroll among the hedgerows, sparkling with their abundant berries, and decked with the hawthorn, the wild rose, the bramble, briory, privet, honeysuckle, elder, holly, and deadly nightshade; or moralise over the fall of the leaf amidst the rich harmonious shades of the forests and plantations, stripped of their summer attire. In the farm much has to be done; wheat should be sown on land from which clover, beans, potatoes, or turnips have been cleared. The quantity sown may be from one to two bushels per acre; on good land, in the southern and midland counties, six pecks are sufficient; but, where severe winters prevail, more than two bushels may be required. The grain ought to be sown in drills, nine inches apart. Rye, winter beans, and winter vetches may also he sown, and potatoes should be got in. Mangel-wurzel, turnips, and carrots should be harvested towards the end of the month. Sheep require great care, and young cattle should be housed early; cows must have frequent change of pasture. October, the Winter Fyllish of the Saxons (from winter approaching with the full moon of that month), can boast of many remarkable days and festivals. The Battle of Trafalgar was fought on the 21st, 1805; Navarino on the 20th, two-and twenty-years later. All-Hallow E'en is the great festival of the month, and is the vigil of "All Saints' Day." Many curious customs are connected with it; for we find from Burns that the first ceremony of the festival is pulling each a stock or plant of kail. The "lasses feat and cleanly neat," the "lads sae trig (spruce) wi' woer-babs" (the garter knotted below the knee with a couple of loops), go out, hand in hand, with eyes shut, and pull the first they meet with; its being big or little, straight or crooked, is prophetic of the size and shape of the grand object of all their spells-the husband or wife. If any yird, or earth, stick to the root, that is tocher, or fortune and the state of the custoc, that is the heart of the stem, is indicative of the natural temper and disposition. Burning the nuts is also a famous charm. They name the lad and the lass to each particular nut as they lay them in the fire; and accordingly as they burn quietly together, or start from beside one another, the course and issue of the courtship will be. In some parts of England, three nuts are placed on the bars, and a lover named after each. If a nut cracks or jumps, the lover will prove unfaithful; if it begins to blaze or burn, the lover has a regard for the person making the trial. If the nuts named after the girl and her lover burn together, they will be married. There is a |