56 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



river leaves its loch at Kenmore to the time when its waters 

 mingle with the tide below Perth, the country is rich in wood, 

 and at more than one spot is peculiarly rich in wood. 



In the upper Tay, and more especially in the defiles through 

 which the Tummel and Garry pass, the grander elements of 

 the country assert themselves and demand admiration; the 

 wooding only adds a refinement and beauty to the robust 

 strength of the great hills. Away in the heathery stretches of 

 Rannoch Moor again, one does not look upon trees and narrow 

 gorges, but upon great expanses of wind-swept heather, backed 

 by distant peaks of serried outline and the free lift of heaven. 



As pointed out by Mr. Macnair in the work already referred 

 to, the Tay twice changes its direction and describes a rough 

 parabolic curve through the centre of Perthshire. From 

 Loch Tay it flows north-east to the junction with the Tummel 

 at Ballinluig. Here it turns almost at right angles, and flows 

 in a direction mainly south-easterly across the wide valley of 

 Strathmore until it reaches Perth, when it again turns sharp 

 off to the east. 



The lengths of the main divisions of the river system are 

 given by Mr. Macnair as follows : 



Source to Loch Tay. . . . . 25 miles. 

 Killin to Kenmore . . . . 14J 



Kenmore to junction with Tummel . .15^ ,, 



Junction with Tummel to Perth Bridge . 31 ,, 



Perth to Sea . , 31 



117 miles. 



The last measurement comprises the estuary, being what is 

 usually called the Firth of Tay. The limits of the estuary 

 are not scheduled in the 1868 Salmon Fishery Act, because 

 early in last century the matter had been decided by the Court 

 of Session. The finding of the Court is not readily accessible, 

 and for this reason the actual limits are known to very few. 

 The matter was appealed to the House of Lords, but sent 

 back to the Scottish Courts for decision. The case was John, 

 Duke of Aihole and others v. the Hon. William Maule of Panmure. 

 The interlocutor was finally issued on 8th July, 1817. It is 

 somewhat lengthy, and deals with the removal of " yairs, 

 stake nets, and other machinery," but the passage dealing 



