270 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



suggest that the gradient is so easy and the temperature so 

 suitable that fish run through the river to the loch at once, 

 and that they do so at a comparatively early date. Even 

 if we place the Hope in the same category as West Coast rivers, 

 there should be fish in its waters by March. It has been with 

 interest, therefore, that I have learned, since writing the first 

 edition of this book that in April 1903, Mr. I. W. Fogg Elliot 

 caught eight clean fish, the first fish being taken on the 2nd of 

 the month. These fish also were all taken at the head of the 

 loch, so the presumption is the lower end would fish in March. 

 The weights varied from 10 to 13^ Ib. 



The exclusive right of fishing the River Hope goes with 

 Hope Lodge. As a matter of fact, it would not be easy for any 

 one not living in the lodge to fish here. The road which crosses 

 from the Kyle of Tongue by the Moine has now a good bridge 

 across the Hope in place of the old ferry. I may mention that 

 the road by the Moine, in these days of motors, has lost its 

 terrors. The old shelter-house is now tenanted. Salmon vary 

 from 6 to 20 Ib. in the Hope, and, when the river is in proper 

 order, a fish a day may be got. Mr. Milburn has erected one 

 or two useful croys since he bought the property, and his 

 efforts are rewarded in larger totals. 



RIVER DIONARD OR GRUDIE 



This river presents conditions the very opposite to those of 

 the Hope. It is a longish river, flowing from a small loch at 

 its head, and entering a long sea estuary the Kyle of Durness 

 within a few miles of Cape Wrath. The length of the river 

 from its little Dionard Loch to the head of the Kyle is 10| miles, 

 and but a small stream of a couple of miles flows down to Loch 

 Dionard from two tarns on the slopes of Meall Horn. From 

 the southern slopes of the same mountain a burn runs down 

 into Loch Stack, from which the Laxford flows. 



The Dionard is a stony and rocky river, with a great variety 

 of small pools, and of no great volume in ordinary conditions. 

 The upper waters sometimes have done surprisingly well, for, 

 when the river is in flood, the pools are so small and the broken 

 water so continuous, that fish are induced to push on to Loch 

 Dionard. The fishing of this section goes with Gualen Lodge, 



