THE CONON 209 



proprietors and Seafield by which netting was reduced and, 

 most important of all, the cruives were opened and left unfished. 

 This terminated in 1920, by which time the increase to the 

 stock of fish had become most marked. Seasons 1918, 1919, 

 and 1920 yielded greatly increased catches to the rod, the 

 benefit being marked over the whole river, Brahan water and 

 others. 



Another agreement of a similar kind was come to between 

 Capt. Stirling of Fairburn and Lord Seaforth, commencing in 

 1921, the great improvement being responsible for a substantial 

 increase in rent. 



The Conon may now, however, be considered as a river well 

 established on the up grade. Netting is reduced to the oper- 

 ations of two crews in the tidal waters, well below the Conon 

 Bridge. 



RIVER CONON 



From the falls already referred to, the main river has a 

 course of about twelve miles to the head of the Cromarty Firth 

 near Dingwall. This course may be said to be across a plain 

 interrupted at one or two points by remnants of the old higher 

 formation which have resisted erosion to a greater extent 

 than the surrounding flat valley. At Comrie there is a con- 

 striction, and just above Newton the rocks which form the 

 Achilty Hill also make their mark in the river bed in the shape 

 of the Muirton Rapids. The river then bends in a northerly 

 direction with an even flow to the point where the Blackwater 

 enters. A large pool results, and the course becomes easterly 

 in a straight run to Moy Bridge. 



The Conon Fall and the fishings on the left bank down to 

 Moy Bridge belong to Coul, and the average number of fish 

 taken used to be about 50, with a maximum of about 100. 

 Now all the fishings are much improved. On the right bank, 

 the short stretch between the fall and the mouth of the Meig 

 about a mile of water goes with Little Scatwell. From the 

 mouth of the Meig on this bank the right of fishing goes with 

 Scatwell Estate for a distance of about five miles, when Fairburn 

 comes in and continues right down to the mouth of the Orrin. 

 The estate also includes the Orrin, where Fairburn Tower 

 stands, as will be mentioned later. 



o 



