98 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



at Aberdeen ; but as bank holidays are not more plentiful 

 across the Border than in the south, while as on all other lawful 

 days this scribe must have been on his ofifice stool, it has 

 ever puzzled us why he should have been selected to report 

 the doings of many anglers many miles distant from his 

 honourable occupation. His employers are indeed to be con- 

 gratulated, if he gave them as much for their money as he 

 offered to the editor of Land and Water for his. This report- 

 ing is, however, the fashion of the day, and retiring sportsmen 

 have to submit. It is much encouraged by some proprietors 

 or their factors, as it is a good gratis advertisement for them ; 

 while no great harm is done as long as reports are really 

 accurate, for most shootings and fishings are certainly rented 

 at their very highest value. When, however, their yield 

 appears in print greatly exaggerated, then the tenants may 

 fairly say that such misleading statements are likely to cause 

 a rise in their rents. 



There is one small fault in these reports of which we have 

 heard many complain, viz. that gentlemen and keepers are 

 usually all alike dubbed " Mr.," so that unless an angler well 

 knows the river mentioned, it is impossible for him to tell who 

 is who, or to ascertain if it be fished by amateurs or keepers ; 

 and if the greater part of a big river be not fished by gendemen, 

 then it may be taken for granted the angling is not worth 

 much. 



The nets on the Scotch coasts, and in the rivers them- 

 selves, work so closely and incessantly that the spring fishings 

 coming up to our ideal standard are few and far between, 

 and none of the English rivers, and but few of the Scotch 

 or Irish ones, approach it. Of the Scotch rivers that can 

 yield such takes in the spring, in Aberdeenshire there are 

 fishings of Invercauld, Glen Tana, Cambus-o'-May, the Aboyne 

 Castle water, Ballogie, Woodend, Cairnton, and Blackball 

 Castle, all on the Dee. In Inverness-shire, there is Lord 

 Lovat's part of the Beauly ; also the Garry of Loch Oich. 



