THE LOWER BEATS 243 



rapidly. Then the two Caen Pools, upper and lower, the 

 Railway Bridge, the Sand Pool or Tumble Down Dyke a cast 

 which does not seem to yield much. I am informed that owing 

 to the tumbling in of Richard Dawson, after lunch one day, the 

 late Sir John Kerslake christened the pool ''Tumble Down 

 Dick." The next pool is probably named after the same Sir 

 John, but it is now called Jone's Pool or Jones. Mr. Sykes 

 suggested that this pronunciation is in all probability simply 

 the result of the Highland manner of pronouncing John. Above 

 this are the Alder, Stall, and Salzcraggie Pools. From the last, 

 15 fish have been taken in a day. 



No. 2. " From Salzcraggie to the tail of Lower Torrish Pool." 

 There are six pools including Kilpheddar, which takes a long 

 time to work over, and used to be far better than it now is. 



No. 3. "From Lower Torrish to a post to be fixed at the 

 tail of Baddy wood Pool." I fear the post has never been fixed 

 as described, but probably the tail of Baddywood Pool is 

 sufficiently distinct. This is a short beat containing three very 

 fine pools ; 15 and 12 fish have been taken in a day. 



No. 4. " From Baddywood to top of Kilearnan Dyke Pool." 

 This is, perhaps, the least interesting beat in the river, as the 

 seven pools are almost all sluggish. It fishes best in high water 

 or with an upstream breeze. In spring, kelts are apt to be 

 much in evidence, and in cold springs it is apt to get frozen 

 over. I 



No. 5. " From Kilearnan Dyke Pool to top of Kildonan 

 Dyke Pool." This beat contains the Duible Pool, which in old 

 days was considered quite one of the best on the river. It does 

 not now yield as good results as formerly, owing, it is believed, 

 to the shifting of the gravel banks and flow of the main current. 

 The Short Pool is also an excellent cast. The Boat Pool is 

 best with an upstream breeze, and on its particular day has 

 yielded as many as 18 fish, 



No. 6. " From Kildonan Dyke Pool to Kildonan Bridge." 

 The pools are The Manse, Little Rock, Big Rock, Flat, Fall, and 

 the two Station Pools. Fish usually congregate in great 

 numbers below the fall as the early season advances, and sport 

 is often very good. I believe 16 fish is the best from the 

 beat, but the average is high, and certainly the best in the whole 

 river. When the weather is cold all through spring, fish do not 



