232 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



wooding, but the views on every hand are pleasantly varied, 

 and as the upper waters are reached, often extremely fine. At 

 Carrol a small hatchery has been in existence since 1878, but 

 this is now (1921) likely to be superseded by a larger and more 

 generously equipped building near Gordonbush. The loch is 

 netted near the Carrol narrows in the early months of the year, 

 and often contains great numbers of salmon. Why they are 

 not more fished for by rod in the spring of the year I do not 

 know, unless it be that the salmon fishing being closely pre- 

 served, the tenants naturally disregard boat work in favour of 

 the river bank. A fair number of sea-trout also enter the loch. 

 The brown trout may be fished for by visitors to Brora Hotel, 

 but they run very small. 



Below Loch Brora the lower river has a course of 4 miles 

 to the sea. The mouth is 12 miles south of Helmsdale. The 

 total angling water, discounting the water above the junction 

 with the Blackwater, is about 18 miles. 



The best section is undoubtedly the lower river. Ascending 

 from the sea the tidal water, which can be seen from the train as 

 it slows across the bridge before stopping at Brora Station, is in 

 a rocky gorge with a comparatively narrow, black-looking pool, 

 down the side of which a rope and snatch block may be seen 

 facilities for the netsmen. 



Rising out of tide-reach over a stony ford the river is followed 

 to the southward in a wide bend upwards, skirting the edge of 

 an old and much larger river channel now covered with peat 

 and heather, and supporting a tile work which, during any 

 visit of mine, has been particularly noticeable both to the eye 

 and the nose. An old cruive used to exist a short distance from 

 the mouth, its presence being still notified by the name of the 

 pool. There are nine pools to the Ford Pool, where a foot- 

 bridge now crosses, and above this the river passes through 

 about half a mile of fir wood with one other pool (the Otter) 

 before the outlet from the loch is reached. 



The lower river is divided between Mr. Haig-Thomas, of 

 Balnacoil, and the Duke of Sutherland, the former on the north 

 bank and the latter on the south. Gordonbush has been 

 purchased, quite recently, by Mr. Tyson. The loch is held 

 jointly, and the upper water, up to the Benarmine March, is 

 with Mr. Haig-Thomas. 



