242 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



1921 a fish of 30 Ib. and another of 31| lb., both unusual weights 

 for the Helmsdale. 



With regard to monthly results, May is best, April second and 

 June third, but July sometimes yields big days. 



On 26th July, 1910, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. McCorquodale, fishing 

 one beat, had 20 salmon and 11 sea-trout. Mr. McCorquodale 

 is now proprietor of Salzcraggie and Torrish. 



During a very dry June I was fortunate enough, through the 

 kindness of the late Mr. Frank Sykes, to witness one of the 

 artificial freshenings of the river. Owing to the lowness of 

 water-level it had become difficult for fish to ascend. A few 

 energetic grilse were at times to be seen pushing their way up 

 the shallows, but for the most part fish were getting stale in all 

 the pools, and, as I had experienced, they were all coming 

 short and taking hold badly. On the previous day, for instance, 

 of eight fish hooked on one of the beats only one was landed. 

 It was agreed therefore to let down some extra water, and one 

 of the two Badanloch sluices was accordingly opened to the 

 full, i.e. 4 ft. 3 in. 



The rise in the upper waters was immediate and most marked, 

 while at a distance of 7 miles downstream the rise in the 

 water presently amounted to 5 inches. The sluice was held up 

 for 21 hours, and during this interval the river remained in 

 beautiful running order, and fish were enabled to ascend freely 

 from pool to pool. On visiting Badanloch dam at the expiry 

 of the 21 hours, I found that the level of the loch had fallen only 

 3 inches, so great was the storage in 6 square miles of water. 

 An ample stock, therefore, remained for subsequent use if the 

 dry spell of weather lasted. 



I may now state the limits of the twelve beats as expressed in 

 the Estate " Arrangements," and at the same time mention 

 such particulars as to big days or particular pools as may be 

 of some interest. 



LOWER BEATS 



No. 1. "From the sea to the head of Salzcraggie Pool." 

 There are ten pools, but the tidal pool is not fished by the 

 tenants and is not usually counted. The lowest is therefore the 

 Flat Pool, then the Marrel, a deep pool beside a shelving cliff, 

 and having a large eddy from which fish may be drawn out 



