CHAP, v.] SCOTTISH SALMON STREAMS. 209 



tion than those caught in the fresh-water division of the large 

 salmon rivers. ; hence they are in greater demand, and bring a 

 slightly better price. There is no consideration among tacks- 

 men of river fishings, or proprietors of bag or stake nets, for 

 the preservation of the fish ; it seems to be a rule with these 

 gentlemen to kill all they can. It is obvious that, if the 

 upper proprietors of the waters were to act in the same spirit, 

 and kill all the salmon that reached the breeding-grounds, that 

 fine fish, not unaptly called the " venison of the waters," would 

 very speedily become extinct. 



As may be known to most of my readers, the chief British 

 salmon streams, so far at least as productiveness is con- 

 cerned, are the Tay, the Tweed, the Spey, and the Esk. I 

 have not space in which to sketch the whole of these rivers, 

 but I desire, on behalf of English readers particularly, to say 

 a few words about two of our Scottish salmon streams ; and I 

 select the Tay and the Spey. 



The Tay is equal to a basin of 2250 square miles, and it dis- 

 charges, after a run of about 150 miles, a greater volume of 

 water than any other Scottish river. " As ascertained by Dr. 

 Anderson, the quantity which is carried forward per second 

 opposite the city of Perth averages no less than 3640 cubic 

 feet." The main river and its affluents, and their varied tri- 

 butaries, afford splendid breeding-ground for the salmon. As 

 an instance we may take the Earn. It flows from Loch Earn 

 in the far west of Perthshire, and is, when it leaves the lake, 

 a considerable river, and over the greater part of its course its 

 current is very rapid. A slight drawback to its capabilities as 

 a fish-breeding river is the fact of its sometimes overflowing 

 its banks ; but its tributaries afford plenty of excellent 

 ground for salmon-breeding. Indeed, on all the tributaries of 

 the Tay there is ample accommodation for the fish. I have 

 in my mind's eye some excellent salmon-beds near Airlie 

 Castle, on the Isla. The banks of the river are overhung by 



p 



