264 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



but the prospect is ever varied and charming as seen along the 

 course of the river. 



The estuary of the Naver is a joint estuary with the Borgie, 

 and includes the sea bay Torrisdale Bay into which both 

 rivers flow. " A straight line drawn from Aird-in-iaskich on 

 east to Claishaidhe on west (Burnet and Scott's County Map)." 

 I may say that the names in question are not to be found in 

 familiar maps, but the widest possible limits of Torrisdale 

 Bay are referred to. Two sweep nets used to be fished at the 

 mouth of the Naver, and one at the mouth of the Borgie. 

 These nets, however, were used only from 15th May to the end 

 of July. 



With regard to bag nets, the Naver may be said to be almost 

 without those engines. It is 34 miles from the eastern limit 

 of the Naver district to Cape Wrath, and the five bag nets 

 which used to be employed have been given up, and no bag 

 nets exist for several miles to the eastward. 



The best rod results are generally obtained during March, 

 April, and May. The weather conditions determine the matter 

 a good deal, but under normal conditions the Naver is a very 

 early river, and is pretty well stocked with fish at the opening 

 day in January. Loch Naver is only 247 feet above the sea, 

 and unless a low temperature has prevailed during winter the 

 fish are early into the upper reaches. Mr. C. H. Akroyd 

 informed me on one occasion that when his father was tenant 

 at Dalvina, he himself took six clean fish from Loch Naver on 

 the opening day (12th January), although, as a rule, they did 

 not trouble to fish the loch. This seems to indicate that the 

 Naver and the Thurso are very much alike in the matter of 

 early fish. So far as I know, however, the river is not regularly 

 fished nowadays in the early days of the season. The chances 

 are that a fair stock of fish is present in January, although it 

 does appear that the stock generally is not so good as it used 

 to be. Best rod results may be expected in May. 



I am able to give, as nearly as the data can be ascertained, 

 the rod catches for the six years up to 1908 : 



1903 . . 501 I 1905 . . 292 I 1907 . . 483 



1904 . . 204 I 1906 . . 390 1908 . . 300 



Previous to this I am unable to secure any records except 



