SALMON FISHING 137 



have searched explain the verb "to navigate" as "passing 

 by ships or boats." As there are two good fishings on the 

 Spey, each rented by distinguished judges, viz., Sir A. L. 

 Smith* and Sir Ford North, we should much like to hear 

 their opinions on the matter ; but, failing any intimation of 

 their views, we cannot help thinking if a case were fought 

 in a superior court that the trouters would lose the day.f 

 The Tay and the Dee are both fully as much navigable as 

 the Spey, but as yet on neither of these is the right claimed. 

 On the latter river the matter has had the bad luck to be 

 made a political question, so none of the proprietors seem 

 inclined to move. The destruction of these numberless par 

 could, however, be easily prevented, if the Fishery Board 

 would make a bye-law to the effect that no fish whatsoever 

 should be taken from the river that was not eight inches long. 



We do not think the trouters would lose much if even a 

 case at law went against them, for none of those who are 

 well behaved would be denied permission, although it would 

 enable the proprietors to put a check on the offensive and 

 poaching members of the fraternity. 



The Countess of Seafield, the Duke of Richmond, Sir 

 George Macpherson Grant of Ballindalloch, and Mr. J. W. 

 Grant of Carron and Elchies, virtually own the bulk of the 

 salmon rod-fishings of the Spey, and if they jointly so willed, 

 it is certain they could devise some method of restoring the 

 lost prestige to this magnificent river. In our humble opinion, 

 the only thorough way to meet the present system of close 

 scientific netting on any river is to lengthen the weekly 

 close time. Many people imagine a salmon becomes a sort 

 of aqueous racehorse the moment he leaves the salt water, 

 and ceases not to wag fins or tail till he is a long way up 

 the river. As a matter of fact, nothing of the kind takes 



* Died October, 1901, whilst this book was passing through the press, 

 t Since this chapter was written this matter has been fought out in a Court 

 of Law, and the trouters were beaten. See Salmon Rivers of Scotland. 



