HOWIETOUN PLANK PONDS. 151 



on that map. This accounts for the great depth and richness of 

 the soil. The grazing rent of the part in which the ponds are 

 situated was in 1875 over 90s. per imperial acre. This is an 

 important consideration, since the magnificent results which have 

 been obtained would never have been produced in ponds con- 

 structed in barren soil. The land that carries the heaviest cattle 

 will also rear the most and the best trout. I do not say that cold 

 Highland lakes should not be cultivated, far from it ; but I do 

 say that no breeding establishment should be attempted except 

 in the most favourable situations. The principal point in breed- 

 ing is to grow the best breed, and nothing else ; there must be 

 no chance of making a mistake with the milters. It would 

 surprise most people to hear how easily even the best men make 

 mistakes with milters. The smaller ones are always the readiest 

 when a push comes. With spawners it is different : the eggs can 

 be recognised at a glance, or at worst by examining the micropile 

 with the microscope, so mistakes are not made with them. It 

 is more than probable some of the consignments of salmon ova 

 to the antipodes were a mixture. In this case the S. brachypoma 

 eggs would get the best of it, as they stand much coarser handling 

 than S. salar. 



The location of the ponds is of the first importance. The 

 direction of the prevailing wind must be studied, and the ponds 

 placed at right angles to its direction. This was not understood 

 at Howietoun for ten years ; in fact, the importance of wind was 

 not dreamed of. All the ponds constructed before 1881 run 

 nearly north, and the two winds which blow strongest, and to 

 which the Fishery is most exposed, are the east and the south- 

 west. It was thought that the south-west, the prevailing wind in 

 winter, might wash the earthbanks of the ponds if it blew down 

 them, so the ponds were laid off at first slightly west of north and 

 east of south. The Craigend ponds were constructed in an old 

 sunk fence, which happened to run due north and south ; so it is 

 only in the last few years any ponds have been constructed which 

 caught the wind in their length. So far as I have noted, the 

 south-west wind does little harm, but the east wind in spring, 



