SUTHERLAND. 159 



Little Ferry, the upper portion of which was, early in the 

 present century, considerably shortened by the construc- 

 tion of an artificial embankment in order to form the 

 turnpike road, which since then passes over it at the 

 Mound, a station on the railway. The flow of the river 

 is here impeded and impounded during high tide, and by 

 the construction of sluices in the embankment, is allowed 

 to run down only at ebb tide. There is good sea-trout 

 fishing, and occasionally salmon are got. The fishing is 

 not open to the public. I was kindly permitted to fish 

 here when in the north, and got some fine sea-trout along 

 the embankment. About ten years ago the Duke granted 

 permission to introduce into the Fleet a number of young 

 sterlet which were brought all the way from the Volga for 

 that purpose. This experiment has not, however, resulted 

 in successful acclimatisation. 



At Skelbo, about three miles below the Mound, and 

 quite within the influence of the tide, there is a very 

 remarkable cast, where, during a certain condition 

 of the tide, salmon are taken with the fly. That fact has 

 obtained for this cast much reputation, as there is 

 probably not another in Scotland, except it be in the 

 Kyle of Durness, wherein salmon are obtained under 

 similar conditions. I remember my younger brother, 

 nearly thirty years ago, when quite a lad, killing nine 

 salmon and grilse here within the period for fishing 

 which one tide permitted. This was done with a 

 medium-sized " Blue Doctor " fly. It is very remark- 

 able that salmon have never been caught here before the 

 second week in July. There has been erected on the 



