152 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



was left severely alone. With 20,000 acres of splendid moor 

 to shoot over, the absence of fishing was not difficult to put up 

 with. 



It is proper to remember, however, that a very material 

 change has taken place in the amount of netting at the mouth 

 of the Spey. An increase in the stock of fish, and in the 

 number of fish which may be able to ascend in the early part 

 of the season, has certainly taken place, as will be referred to 

 presently, and is steadily bringing about, all over the river 

 a new condition of things. People who have got out of 

 the way of fishing those upper waters may find it worth their 

 while to throw an experimental fly over the water now and 

 again. After mild winters I should especially expect fish here 

 earlier than they have been known in the memory of the very 

 oldest and most authoritative ghillie. 



Below Aviemore there are two or three nice pools belonging 

 to Kinveachy, which is the furthest up possession of the Seafield 

 estates. These often hold a lot of fish at " the back-end." 

 Between Boat of Garten and Broomhill the last stretch of slack 

 and uninteresting water exists, and with it ends the upper 

 section of the river as I have ventured to divide it. 



So far the whole of the course has been in the county of 

 Inverness. Between Broomhill and Grantown, the Dulnain 

 tributary enters on the left bank. This river is second only 

 to the Avon in size and importance as a tributary of the Spey. 

 It rises about 28 miles to the west, far back in the solitary slopes 

 of the Monadliath mountains, not far from the source of the 

 Findhorn. It holds a few fish in summer, and uaed to be 

 known as a sea-trout stream. A few sea-trout may still be 

 taken from it, but the real value of the Dulnain is as a spawning 

 stream. After a little fall near old Muckrach Castle, the 

 former seat of the Grants of Rothiemurchus, there is no obstruc- 

 tion of any moment for about 15 miles, and in spite of a distinct 

 peatiness of water the spawning ground is excellent almost 

 the whole way. Many fish surmount the upper falls also as 

 I have seen more than once and spawn in the most lonely 

 part of the stream in the outlying section of Kinrara property. 



From Grantown to the mouth of the river is a distance of 

 about 40 miles, the left bank being chiefly in the county of 

 Elgin, while the right bank is for the most part in the county 



