108 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



stopped fish. Brechin Dam was, as it were, the Craigo of the 

 South Esk. Some sixteen nets were fished in the 5 miles 

 of river below Brechin, although I suppose a couple of crews 

 could have secured all the fish had there been no competition. 

 As a matter of fact two crews have, in about 4| miles of river, 

 got 878 salmon, 488 grilse, and 4,766 sea trout in a season. 

 More than once, over 5,000 sea trout were taken, which reminds 

 me to state that the South Esk is naturally prominent as a 

 sea-trout river. In all probability the attractions of Montrose 

 Basin is a factor in the abundance of a fish which is much more 

 estuarial in its habits than the salmon. 



Brechin Dam Dyke was opened up to the better ascent of 

 fish in 1894, and with the removal of the nets three years later, 

 an important step in the interests of the river was secured. 

 The pass is of easy gradient round a small island and the end of 

 the weir, at the right bank of the river. The new arrangement 

 to net here will not be as deadly as in the old days, but in my 

 opinion a river the size of the South Esk cannot stand netting 

 in fresh waters and at the same time maintain a fair distribution 

 of fish. Two other dykes exist below this point, the first at 

 Kinnaird, the property of the Earl of Southesk, and the other 

 at the East Mill, Brechin. The Kinnaird Dyke is a large 

 structure, but it has a fish pass which is reported to answer its 

 purpose well. The East Mill Dyke has also a pass, but is very 

 leaky. 



Above Brechin, about a couple of miles, the Blackie Mill 

 Dyke occurs. This structure had to be rebuilt some time ago, 

 and the fish pass was then conveniently omitted, but the 

 District Board have now got this matter put right. The dyke 

 is 4 to 4| feet high. The river is considerably broken up in 

 different channels, but after these unite a great pool occurs, 

 which has received a good deal of attention by " croy " building 

 on a fine gravelly bottom. The corner of the river next below 

 is a favourite one with the pearl fisher. The other weirs are 

 at Finavon, Murthill, Craigessie, and Cortochy. The second 

 and last named of these are unprovided with fish passes, but 

 the obstructions are not of great moment, and the District 

 Board do not consider passes necessary. 



With regard to the third factor, that of pollution, there 

 is still considerable difficulty. The impurity comes almost 



