260 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



passing the nets and enter fresh water are not able to ascend 

 freely. 



A considerable amount of hatching was at one time carried 

 on at Forss, and a special feature was that the fry, instead of 

 being turned out in the main stream or into side streams in the 

 ordinary way, were turned only into streams which had been 

 first cleared of trout, parr, and eels. A section of a burn was 

 run dry by diverting the water temporarily. It was then 

 screened off, and again supplied with water, the result being 

 that the fry occupied a perfectly natural stream free from 

 enemies. Here they were hand-fed, and grew to an unusual 

 size. They were also believed to have migrated seaward 

 considerably sooner than the wild smolts. These operations 

 were carried on by Mr. Nicol, now with Mr. Pilkington at 

 Sandside, where hatching on an extensive scale is carried 

 on, and where some very interesting experiments have been 

 made. 



RIVER HALLADALE 



This river, which is wholly in Sutherland, is almost exactly 

 20 miles in length. It has been described as forming the 

 boundary between Caithness and Sutherland, but the boundary 

 is some miles to the east, and does not even cut the small 

 tributaries which flow from this side. 



It rises south-east of the railway line at Forsinard at an 

 elevation of about 1,100 feet, but makes, at first, a rapid 

 descent, so that when it passes below the railway it crosses 

 also the 500 feet contour line. Thereafter the main direction 

 is north to the Pentland Firth at Bighouse Bay, and in its 

 course there are comparatively few windings till within about 

 four miles of the sea. The road from Forsinard to Melvich, 

 opposite Bighouse, follows the course of the river the whole 

 way. There is only one tributary of any importance, the Dyke 

 Water, which enters from the west, close to the remains of a 

 Pictish tower, six miles from Forsinard. 



The upper sections of the Halladale have good running 

 character and rocky pools, and plenty of spawning ground. 

 The lower sections are rather sluggish, and generally require a 

 breeze to fish well. At one point, not far from the mouth, the 

 late Duke of Sutherland cut the river into canal form in order 



