THE THURSO 251 



1 17 fishx 



55 fish. 



3. 15 



4. 6 



5. blank. 

 6. 



Another day in the same year produced 45 fish. The total 

 number of fish taken in 1863 was 1,510, the record year, but 

 1920 was not far short of it. 



A considerable series of annual records are available from 

 the Thurso, referring chiefly to angling from llth January to 

 the end of May each year. We may commence with the record 

 year just referred to, and include therefore 58 years to date. 

 In the latest years the angling has been carried on through the 

 whole season, and eight rods may be estimated as pretty 

 steadily at work. ; 



It will be sufficient if I give the eleven quinquennial averages 

 for 55 years and the individual totals for the three last years. 



1863 to 1867 .- * ... . * 714 



1868 to 1872 ... . ".. 760 



1873 to 1877 . . . . . 744 



1878 to 1882 . . . '. . 438 



1883 to 1887 . ;' jc . . 490 



1888 to 1892 >.- ; --.'.. . 486 



1893 to 1897 . . i . .357 



1898 to 1902 ,. - --., ... . , . 225 



1903 to 1907 . . . ..' . ' . 323 



1908 to 1912 . . . . .435 



1913 to 1917 . . . . . 493 

 Three last years : 



1918 . . . ..... 703 



1919 . . . */;/.;* . . 901 



1920 . . , . . .1,111 



The average for the three last years is 905. We shall see 

 presently that much has been done to secure the improvement 

 so marked in recent years. In the whole period under review, 

 the catch of 1920 has only been exceeded twice, viz., in 1863 

 and 1874. 



The right of fishing in the entire river is held by the Ulbster 

 estate. Previous to 1888 the river fishing was tenanted by Mr. 

 Dunbar ; but in that year he died and the late Sir Tollemache 

 Sinclair took over the control. In 1891 he let the spring fishing 



