112 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



survive there, is not easy to understand, for frequently the 

 stream below disappears amongst the chaos of great rocks 

 which strew the so-called path to Braemar ; but I have seen 

 and have " gumped " them there. I hasten to say that I put 

 the little fellows back. From these 



" Grizzly cliffs that guard 

 The infant rills of Highland Dee " 



the river has a course of 87 miles to the sea at Aberdeen. 



As it emerges from the Larig it is a mere mountain torrent ; 

 but presently it is joined at right angles by the Geldie from 

 the south-west, and the united waters start off eastwards down 

 a magnificent Highland glen of wild slopes and ragged Scotch 

 fir to the Linn of Dee, 6| miles above Braemar. This water 

 belongs to the Duke of Fife. There is no great fall at the Linn 

 and there is no other fall from here to the sea but just at 

 the bridge, opened by Queen Victoria in 1857, the channel of 

 the river becomes suddenly contracted by great masses of 

 rock, through which the concentrated water rushes in a channel 

 only about 4 feet wide. The pool below is deep and black, 

 and much overhung by the rocks ; in this at times great 

 numbers of fish congregate, and, from tales I have heard, are 

 a sore temptation to disappointed anglers. A considerable 

 extent of the Mar fishing is rented for the early part of the 

 season which usually means, I believe, to the end of July 

 by the Fife Arms Hotel at Braemar, and is commonly sublet 

 according to arrangement. The proprietor of the hotel usually 

 divides the water at his disposal about 7 miles into 

 three beats, which are fished by rotation. The best time is 

 usually from about the middle of April to the end of June, 

 but much depends on water-flow and temperature, a mild 

 winter bringing fish up earlier, while a dry, hot June reduces 

 the river rather fast. When the Duke's party come to New 

 Mar Lodge the fishing is taken over, with the exception of 

 about 2 miles, which the Fife Arms Hotel holds throughout 

 the season. The Mar water yields on an average about 200 

 salmon and grilse, though in seasons when fish are to be got in 

 March, this number may be considerably increased. With 

 the exception of the Linn Pool, the water is ideal for fly, 

 although all sorts of baits are used, and the variety of the 



