TAY DISTRICT 59 



organised poaching on a large scale has now to be tackled as 

 this Tay affair was. 



The estuary has been a famous centre of salmon fishing since 

 netting was first practised. It is a famous centre still, although 

 most of the netting is now concentrated in the narrow tidal 

 waters a few miles below Perth, all fishings in this section and 

 below being in the hands of the Tay Salmon Fisheries Company, 

 so that all elements of competition are eliminated, and the 

 complement of fish taken by only the necessary number of nets 

 and men. The " hailing grounds " or hauling beaches have a 

 venerable aspect, smooth from long use, and here the wind- 

 lasses are at work night and day during the season. The 

 bothies for the men are low stone houses with slated roofs, 

 with frequently a store attached for the gear ; sweep nets of 

 extraordinary lengths are in use in some of the wide shots. 

 The crews who carry on the fishing have also a certain 

 hereditary interest in the work, and Maxwells and Pan- 

 tons, Thomases and Haggarts are always to be found in 

 the water or in the boats, at the windlasses or in the 

 bothies. 



In the old days the whole estuary was netted by toot and 

 haul, hang net, and the sweep net, and the last-named style 

 was carried on right up the river, and even in the upper 

 tributaries where the water was suitable. It is of some interest 

 to know what was then netted in the Tay, and through the 

 kindness of the Earl of Moray, who has a detailed return of 

 catches at Kinfauns Castle for the period between 1830 and 

 1846, I am able to give the following totals, representing the 

 produce of thirty-four netted fisheries from the mouth of the 

 estuary up to well above Dunkeld, thus including all the 

 important waters of the river. The return distinguishes 

 between salmon and grilse, and I have added the quinquennial 

 averages after adding the salmon and grilse of each year 

 together : 



Year. Salmon. Grilse. 5-Year Average. 



1830 . 27,658 53,249\ 



1831 . 19,827 38,754 



1832 . 25,898 53,085V 73,030 



1833 . 20,556 50,612 



1834 . 28,045 47,469/ 



