THE NESS 173 



of Loch Dochfour, since, like the highest stretch of the river, it 

 is in the Dochfour property. 



At ordinary levels the water from the loch flows over only 

 a section of the weir, where also a deep gap, which acts as the 

 fish-pass, exists. When the loch is high, or when strong winds 

 from the south and south-west blow the surface water in this 

 direction, the rest of the weir comes into operation, so that the 

 storm water passes into the river over a wide extent of sill and 

 sweeps round through the first pool of this, the Dochfour water, 

 and through the Horse Shoe Pool which immediately succeeds 

 and which is perhaps the best pool of the river in great 

 style. It is the sight which at once fixes the gaze of the many 

 tourists who pass in and out of the Canal by steamer in the 

 summer time ; and if in addition a happy angler is at work in 

 a boat in the swirling water, he becomes the focus of all eyes 

 till the lock gates open and the red-funnelled steamer paddles 

 on behind a screen of gorse and briars. 



This water used to be netted in the spring, and a very profit- 

 able fishing it was to the tacksman in cold frosty years when 

 the loch, and therefore the river, had fallen to a low level. At 

 such times fish have some difficulty or reluctance in ascending 

 the weir into the loch, and consequently accumulate in great 

 numbers. A catch which occurred on the opening day some 

 twenty years ago is likely to remain in the memory of the 

 netsmen till they cross the floods of Jordan. It was almost 

 phenomenal, and therefore was much reported. The following 

 year was also an excellent one for the tacksman, but the good- 

 ness was the death of his fishing from that time forward. There 

 is an old Scots proverb, " When you're pooin' runts, you're no' 

 plantin' kail." The tacksman was pulling out the fish at Doch- 

 four, so none could possibly be swimming in the Garry where 

 the netted fish would otherwise have gone. The absence of 

 spring fish was most marked. The Duke of Portland, who fishes 

 Loch Oich and the Garry in spring, has shown me his records. 



The matter was serious for the future stock of the river. 

 Either open winters and full running waters had to be arranged 

 with the clerk of the weather, or the netting had to cease, if 

 the Garry was to retain its prestige. In Scotland the clerk of 

 the weather is an " ill man to bind," so His Grace selected the 

 alternative and leased the net for its removal. 



