276 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



clump is two miles long. As a matter of fact, the great loch is 

 a mile and a quarter, and the small loch three-quarters of a 

 mile. Similarly each loch is said to be a mile broad, whereas 

 each is a narrow slip, the maximum width of Garbet Mor being 

 about a seventh of a mile. The stream between the two lochs 

 is insignificant, and the hill burn above Garbet Mor, which 

 rises on the lower slopes of Ben Arkle, is obstructed by falls. 



To the north-east a perfect labyrinth of lochans occupy the 

 low slopes, about the 500 feet contour of Foinne Bheinn, a 

 steep hill rising abruptly on this side to 2,980 feet. These 

 eventually drain into Garbet Beg by the Garbh stream. It is 

 a matter of some surprise that such numbers of sea-trout and 

 salmon sometimes ascend the Inchard, for the spawning ground 

 is very limited in this short little river. Fish do not ascend 

 till end of May or beginning of June, and they do not ascend 

 at all, or cannot do so, unless there is a fair rise of water after 

 rain. In July great numbers of fish are sometimes seen waiting 

 at the mouth. 



The Inchard is so choked up with boulders that it is only 

 here and there that a nice little pool can be found. When a 

 flood occurs the fish are inclined to travel through the river 

 rather fast on this account, and I think it might be quite worth 

 while to make further attempts to enlarge the existing pools 

 so as to give better holding water and increased sport in the 

 river. As things are at present, salmon fishing is practically 

 confined to Loch Garbet Beg, and if fish pass up from the small 

 to the larger loch they cease to take with the same freedom, 

 and are practically lost. So much is this the case that a 

 proposal has been made to construct some sort of dam below 

 Garbet Mor to prevent the early entrance of fish. It would 

 be much more serviceable to store the surplus water of Garbet 

 Mor there is plenty of it at times for the purpose of creating 

 floods at will in the Inchard. 



The Rhiconich Hotel has the right of salmon fishing on lease 

 from the Duke of Sutherland, and the hotel-keeper does all in 

 his power to make anglers comfortable. He usually lets the 

 fishing in Garbet Beg separately at, I believe, 20 a month. 

 June to the end of the season constitutes the available fishing 

 time, but July and August are the best months. The river, 

 when in good play, sometimes yields excellent sea-trout and 



