104 THE SALMON 



the opening of the sluices below set the upper waters 

 moving, presented the appearance of a sluggish canal, 

 and would only yield their treasures under very lively 

 breezes. They did, however, get filled in autumn with 

 small fish of from 3 lb. to 1 7 lb. in weight, and on 

 their banks we would sit for hours, hoping for winds 

 from the right airt which might bring good sport to 

 our twelve-foot rods with light tackle and small salmon 

 and sea-trout flies. In the lower of these pools, 

 called " Torboll " from the neighbouring farm, two of 

 us during a day of equinoctial gale killed eleven fish on 

 a bank of about forty yards' length ; but this experience 

 was never quite repeated. Into this pool a little 

 tributary stream called the " Carnach " ran down from 

 the moors, upon which a mile further up a most 

 elaborate and beautiful salmon-ladder was constructed 

 many years ago in a picturesque spot, and although 

 the sport above it could not be said to justify the cost 

 of this structure, yet we did catch a certain number of 

 fish there — never more than a dozen a year — with 

 trout flies, among the heather and grouse. By 

 opening a siuice in a ioch ten miles up this stream we 

 could create an artificial spate to bring fish up the 

 ladder ; but I think they generally knew it was not 

 the real article. Below the Mound we had another 

 chance of fish, for they would lie and splash outside 



