146 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



were chiefly used lower down, where the water was fairly quiet 

 within and at the top of tide-reach. That the nets still con- 

 tinued to take a fairly heavy toll seems borne out by the few 

 returns published, which I have at command. In 1902 they 

 are reported to have taken 1,500 fish, and in 1903 as many as 

 2,005 fish, being 582 salmon and 1,423 grilse. On the whole, 

 however, the rods were beginning to do better. Recent years' 

 catches have been : 1915-1919 as follows, 518, 884, 1,590, 

 775, 1,289. For some unexplained reason 1920 was peculiarly 

 bad. 



The spring fish of the Deveron is of the small variety, 8-10 lb., 

 with now and again an occasional example of the larger class. 

 The autumn fish, on the other hand, run fairly large, not 

 uncommonly up to 20 and 25 lb. 1920 was remarkable in that 

 a 56 lb. fish and a 42 lb. fish were taken in Eden Pool in October. 



At Huntly the Town Council appoint annually a committee 

 who regulate fishings in the neighbourhood which are leased 

 from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. These fishings 

 extend to 17 miles, or thereby, not only in the Deveron proper, 

 but in the tributaries of the Bogie, Isla, Ness, and Kirk- 

 ney. Visitors to Huntly may receive a ticket enabling them 

 to fish on the waters referred to, the bounds of the various 

 waters being set forth on the ticket itself. Mr. J. R. M'Math, 

 solicitor, Huntly, acts as secretary. The water holds some 

 famous trout which, in the lower sections, come into very fair 

 condition as early as the middle of April. Above Baldorney, 

 June and July are perhaps best. There are probably no waters 

 open to the public in Scotland which offer finer trouting than 

 these, and the chance of a salmon is considerable and the 

 available pools most inviting. Of late years the river above 

 Huntly has yielded more salmon to the rod than the lower 

 water. In course of time we may expect that the upper 

 Deveron will fish like the upper Dee. Persons resident upon 

 the Duke's property at Huntly have a preference in the matter 

 of charge, but a stranger has only to pay 15s. a month, or 

 2 2s. for the season. He may also fish for a day or a week at 

 lesser charges. Salmon fishing permits are issued from 1st 

 March, trout permits from 1st April. Fishing at night is not 

 allowed in September and October, and in fishing for salmon 

 during the month of March fly only is allowed, and the gaff 



