THE NORTH ESK 103 



occurs, and a short distance below this a dam dyke, called 

 Craigo Dyke, exists. Net and coble fishing has for a great 

 many years been steadily carried on up to this bridge. Some 

 years ago an attempt was made by Lord Dalhousie, who owns 

 all the head waters of the river, to modify this netting by taking 

 a five-years' lease of the nets down to a certain point. It is 

 to be feared, however, that since boats' crews were hard at 

 work below, were perhaps much harder at work than formerly 

 on account of the competition, the success of the endeavour 

 was very partial. The upper proprietors would fain have all 

 river nets removed and the obstructions opened up, but it 

 would appear from a well-organised effort made some years ago, 

 that to carry through a project of this kind in the North Esk 

 district is not an easy matter. 



The first obstacle in the ascent of the river is Morphie Dam 

 Dyke, by means of which, through the Kinnaber Lade, water 

 is carried to Montrose. One hears a great deal in the district 

 about the objectionable character of Craigo Dyke. The 

 evidence of the upper proprietors before Lord Elgin's Com- 

 mission was almost entirely directed to the need for the opening 

 up of Craigo ; it is the bete noir of the upper heritors. A pass 

 at Craigo which will be of real service is badly needed, but it 

 is perhaps almost as important that a better pass be also 

 erected at Morphie. When all the netting below Craigo was 

 in one hand, fish might or might not be netted at Morphie. If 

 fish ran the Morphie Dyke they could be got below the Craigo 

 Dyke. When, however, one party fishes from Craigo down to 

 just above Morphie and another party fishes from Morphie to 

 the sea, as is the case at present, the effect of Morphie Dyke as 

 a check to the ascent of fish is such that by steady fishing in 

 the lower section a proportion of each run of fish is not allowed 

 to pass. It is significant that the Morphie netting is rented at 

 1,010 a year, and Craigo at 400. The number of spring fish 

 netted at the opening of the season at Morphie Dyke is some- 

 times enormous. A good fish pass at Craigo would not help 

 this one whit. The pass at Morphie Dyke has been described 

 as probably affording as easy an ascent as is possible in a pass 

 of the kind, but the pass is of a poor kind. Moreover, it would 

 be very easy to construct a pass of a much better kind. I do 

 not mean to argue for a moment that the commercial fishings 



