306 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



land drained by the river is very steep and rocky, and in dry 

 summer weather the shrinkage of the river is apt to be too 

 great for sport. A very excellent result would be obtained, 

 I believe, if Loch Doule could be raised a few feet, and sufficient 

 water impounded to create increased water-flow in summer. 

 The ground at the outlet is very hummocky and uneven. In 

 early geological times it seems probable that a much larger 

 lake existed here, and when glacial erosion was carried to its 

 climax the present loch resulted, and the hummocks were 

 formed. If an examination of the levels showed that the 

 erection of a suitable dam for raising the loch were possible, 

 it is more than likely that an additional benefit would result 

 in preventing early fish becoming practically lost in the loch. 

 A certain number of fish are caught in the loch at present, but 

 an increased number taken on fly in the river would far more 

 than compensate for the reduction of the loch take which 

 might result, even if the best of salmon passes were added to 

 the dam. The run of summer fish, when the temperature of 

 the water had lost its wintry conditions, would not be greatly 

 influenced by the change. 



Takes by the rod at present vary very much indeed, due not 

 only to the fluctuations of water-level, but to the varying 

 amount of fishing which is carried on. For instance, in Lord 

 Wimborne's time, the maximum was 122 salmon in 1883, but 

 the minimum was 5 in 1880. 



