270 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



But above all rivers, "ante omnes," the Findhorn holds 

 with me the highest place, not only for the abundance of its 

 fish, but for the varied country and beautiful scenery through 

 which it passes, from the dreary brown and grey heights of 

 the Monaghleahd mountains, at its source, to the flat and 

 fertile plains of Morayshire, where it empties itself into the 

 salt waters ; and, beyond a doubt, the beauty of the scenery 

 and banks of the Findhorn, for several miles, is not to be 

 equalled in Scotland. Most interesting, too, and varied are 

 the wild animals and birds which frequent its rocks and 

 banks, from the stag and eagle, which add to the wild 

 grandeur of its source, to the wild swan and grey goose, 

 which feed at its junction with the bay. 



I do not know that the Findhorn can be called a first-rate 

 angling river ; for, although frequently almost full of fish, it 

 is so subject to floods and sudden changes that the fish in it 

 do not generally rise well, being constantly kept on the 

 move. 



Although these violent and often most unexpected risings 

 of the river add much to its interest in the eyes of the artist 

 or spectator, they militate sadly against the success of the 

 angler, who has frequently to gather up his tackle as he best 

 can, and run for his life ; or, after having made up his mind 

 to a week's good fishing, finds the river either of a deep black 

 colour, or of the hue and almost of the consistence of 

 pea-soup, overflowing bank and brae, owing to some sudden 

 rain-storm in the distant mountains of the Monaghleahd. 



The Spey is another glorious river a finer river for 

 salmon than even the Findhorn : indeed the rent paid for 

 the salmon-fishing at the mouth of this river proves it to be 

 the best supplied water in Scotland. Everything in tin's 

 matter-of-fact age brings its real and marketable value ; and, 

 from the amount of rent paid, the number of fish which 

 inhabit each river may be very nearly ascertained by a simple 

 arithmetical process, as all fishing-rents are proportioned 

 correctly and carefully to the number and value of salmon 

 which can be caught. The Spey is a fine wide stream, with 

 a great volume of water ; and although, like all Highland 

 rivers, subject to floods, is not liable to such sudden and 

 dangerous risings as its neighbour, the Findhorn. 



The Dee, and many other rivers and streams, all gladdening 

 to the eye of the fly-fisher, pour their waters into the German 

 Ocean : with none of these, however, have I a sufficient 



