PERTH TO DUNKELD. 263 



in their boats, and nailed him or a kinsman. 

 " Slacken the net," said Mr. Speedie, as the sullen 

 splash told that a big fish was in its toils; but the 

 order was just a moment too late, as he had gone 

 through the meshes like the 20-pounder which he 

 was, and up stream, without any more thoughts of 

 flies. The nets were soon righted, and the misfor- 

 tune as well, as the very next shot produced another 

 fish and rather the bigger of the twain. Three shots in 

 an hour where the stream runs rapidly, as it does near 

 the falls, is very fair work, and the number of 

 fathoms of net which they work is less or more in 

 proportion to the rapidity or sluggishness of the 

 stream. A southerly- west wind, a cloudy sky, and 

 dark water are the three great essentials of a favour- 

 able shot. The men work night and day, in de- 

 tachments of six or seven, twelve hours each, and on 

 the Tay their season lasts 178 days, from February 

 1st to August 26th. Why their open time is longer 

 than the other rivers Parliament alone can tell. From 

 6 p.m. on Saturday till 6 a.m. on Monday the river 

 has rest from nets, as well as for the other 187 days 

 in the year, during which the men watch and weave 

 nets. Their fishing pay is 3s. a day, inclusive of boot 

 money, and they get the old nets and fish occa- 

 sionally as their perquisites. Eighteen pounds is 

 about the salmon average ; grilses range from 6 Ibs. 

 to 12 Ibs. ; and the smoults increase in their progress 

 towards salmon estate at from 6 Ibs. to 10 Ibs. a 

 year. 



