THE TAY 67 



an abrupt angle to the river that the water during ordinary 

 levels passes across the Almond above the sill of the dyke and 

 continues its course into the intake of the Perth Lade on the 

 opposite bank. 



Low's Dyke itself has an unusually long slope but no fish 

 pass. Indeed the passage of fish is considerably impeded by a 

 beam which has been placed on top of the sill for the purpose 

 of sending more water into Perth Lade. I have watched fish 

 running this dyke, and many of them seem tired out before 

 they reach the last third of the downstream face, when, if 

 they succeed in struggling further, they are met by the abrupt 

 beam on top of the sill and immediately fall back and are 

 carried to the foot of the weir again. When the water is 

 suitable, however, large numbers of fish ascend, and after 

 spawning the kelts accumulate in the deep pool above Low's 

 Dyke, and until recently were very apt to be drawn into the 

 Perth Lade. Now, after a good deal of negotiation, a heck has 

 been placed here, but it can be raised, and not infrequently, 

 even when the leaves are not coming down so as to choke the 

 bars, I have found it raised. The water from the Almond 

 which is carried down Perth Lade is lost to this tributary, 

 since the mouth of the lade enters the Tay at Perth. 



Continuing upstream in the Tay above Almondmouth we 

 have the Scone Water on the right hand, and Lower Redgorton, 

 Luncarty, Upper Redgorton, Benchill, Stanley (where the first 

 of the two weirs of the main river occurs, a not very serious 

 obstacle), and Burnmouth, on the left hand before the Linn of 

 Campsie is reached. As in other cases, the particular fishings 

 will not be catalogued, but will be found indicated on the maps 

 which accompany the chapter. Both the Redgorton beats 

 go with Battleby House, and are sometimes described as the 

 Battleby Water. The water below the Linn is very good in 

 spring, as well as from the time the grilse appear onwards. 

 It is, of course, big water, and is for the most part harled. 

 The famous Black Crag Pool of the Upper Redgorton beat 

 offers good casting from either bank. The Stormontfield 

 Rearing Ponds are just below on the left bank, receiving water 

 from the Stormontfield Lade. 



Above the Linn, including water for several miles, is generally 

 considered the very best of the Tay for angling. 



