290 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



of the loch, continuing its flow westward, it forms the Ullapool 

 River, and enters Loch Broom just west of the village or town 

 of Ullapool. 



As a salmon angling stream it may practically be disregarded 

 above Loch Achallt, for it is only late in the season that fish 

 ascend the Rhidorroch, the natural spawning ground. In 

 general character, the Ullapool is a rocky river. In the 2| 

 miles between Loch Achallt and the sea it descends 265 feet, 

 and is often cut pretty deeply through the limestone rocks 

 which occur here. Lower down it is more boulder- strewn and 

 gravelly, but about two-thirds of the way up, at Ness, there 

 are one or two little falls about 4 feet high, which are sufficient 

 to stop fish in low water. Below the falls some deep rocky 

 pools occur, where in summer I have known about 30 salmon 

 which had been "potted " there for some time resist all the 

 angler's endeavours. 



The river belongs to the Countess of Cromarty , but the fishing 

 is commonly let, convenient accommodation being found in 

 Ullapool. A great deal depends on the amount of water-flow 

 and the climatic conditions in the early part of the season, 

 but after open winters salmon enter the river in March and 

 April. In this western part of Ross and Cromarty the winters 

 are usually mild. From the middle of April to the end of 

 May may be regarded as the best time for salmon. In June 

 and July the grilse ascend. 



The Ullapool river, though small, has a good reputation, 

 although I fear, like other small west coast rivers, its glory has 

 somewhat declined. Records of 10 to 12 fish to one rod in a 

 day have, I understand, been made in the past. Some time 

 ago, when I visited the water, the month of May had produced 

 only five fish. Colonel Blunt has shown me the Rhidorroch 

 catches, explaining at the same time that the amount of fishing 

 is very variable and at times comparatively slight. In some 

 springs I believe the water has not been fished at all. The bag 

 varies from 10 to 40. 



I am informed by the chief river watchers that sea-trout 

 enter the river in fair numbers, but that, after ascending quite 

 a short distance, they drop back into the sea. I am not sure 

 if this observation refers to more than finnock, whose habit is 

 to fall back into the tide-way. The sea-trout is a creature of 



