INTRODUCTORY 3 



tenants, but this very factor is the one of all others which 

 safeguards our stock of fish in certain districts. If the fishings 

 were not of very great value, water rights would more easily be 

 obtained, and, as a Scotsman is reported to have said in evidence 

 before a Salmon Fisheries Commission, " It's a weel kent fac' 

 in oor country that where there's nae water there can be nae 

 fush." 



Pollution is another danger which threatens salmon fisheries. 

 In the thinly populated country districts, notably in the High- 

 lands, this question does not trouble, and is not likely to trouble. 

 In the Lowlands, however, and wherever the modern tendency 

 of our population to congregate in towns obtains, the danger of 

 pollution becomes greater every day. The various reports of 

 the Sewage Disposal Commission are most illuminating reading 

 as to the complex character of many of the effluents which have 

 to be combated. As a Scotsman dealing only with Scottish 

 salmon rivers, I am devoutly thankful that we have nothing 

 approaching what is reported as characteristic of many rivers 

 in the Midlands of England. The chemists of the Commission 

 just referred to have, however, produced most substantial 

 arguments and demonstrations in favour of bacterial methods 

 of purification. In Scotland the methods have been applied 

 to the extremely toxic bye-products of whisky-making with 

 marked success. In the account of the Spey a description will 

 be found of a severe test made upon salmon eggs and fry with 

 the purified pot ale from the Commission's bacterial filter at 

 Coleburn Distillery. 



In the following pages the salmon angler's interests are those 

 chiefly kept in view. A descriptive account of each river of 

 importance being attempted, and the various physical features, 

 the conditions which have been brought about by the action of 

 man, as injurious or as helpful to the fisheries, are touched 

 upon. As far as possible, without introducing matter of a 

 private nature, particulars are given to show the productive- 

 ness of the various fishings, and I would here express my 

 indebtedness to very many proprietors who have consented 

 to my publishing the records of their waters. 



In no sense is an attempt here made to criticise in any 

 exhaustive way the various factors which crop up as adverse 

 to the best interests of the salmon fisheries. A book such as 



