THE YTHAN 135 



The estuary as defined by the 1868 Salmon Act, is " a portion 

 of a circle of 300 yards radius, to be drawn from a centre placed 

 mid-channel in the river where it joins the sea at low- water of 

 equinoctial spring tides, and continued shorewards by tangents 

 to the circle drawn to the nearest points of the shore of the 

 respective sides of the river at high water mark, also of equi- 

 noctial spring tides." This is one of those estuaries so defined, 

 apparently, as to provide for a shifting river mouth. I am 

 not aware, however, that the Ythan estuary has to be 

 remeasured at regular intervals as the Bervie estuary has to 

 be, where, according as the little river has gone a few yards 

 this way or that, a stand of nets on a rocky point is thrown 

 out or put in. On a flat sandy shore, such as that of the Ythan, 

 a few yards makes little or no difference to the position of a 

 net, so long as it is placed in proper relation to the river mouth. 



The district of the river Ythan does not extend more than 

 about a couple of miles along the shore southwards, whereas 

 the mouth of the next river, the Don, is 10 miles distant. 

 Since the Don netting ceases on 26th August, there is a whole 

 fortnight's difference in the length of time the Ythan's nets 

 may fish. The Don fishers, who are just alongside the most 

 southerly Ythan nets, feel this to be rather a grievance. It is, 

 of course, only what occurs in several localities, only here the 

 difference is specially obvious. 



With regard to netting in the estuary, this has somewhat 

 lessened in recent years. Practically only one net is fished for 

 about two hours daily. This suits the rod fishers of the tidal 

 waters, the fishing of which is leased in part to the Udny Arms 

 Hotel at Newburgh. The Ythan is an excellent sea-trout 

 river, and as this salmdnid favours an estuarial habit much 

 more than the salmon proper, the long tidal reach of the 

 estuary forms a good rod fishery for both adult trout and 

 finnocks. The fishing is carried on from boats, and from July 

 to September inclusive the sea-trout are in best condition. 

 They vary in weight from 4 ounces to about 2 Ib. and larger. 

 Salmon are seldom fished for in the estuary, but a basket of 10 

 Ib. of sea-trout is considered satisfactory by those who know 

 how to do well there. 



Fourteen miles of the river is held by Lord Aberdeen, who 

 has right of fishing on both banks. With his usual generosity, 



