312 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



or was portioned off as only a part of the second beat. The 

 streams connecting the other lochs are only short runs, where 

 a cast or two may be taken, as it were, in the bye-going. 



There are or were five beats, and a single rod fishes each, 

 fly alone being allowed. 

 "No. 1. The north half of the first loch as divided and 



marked out. 

 " No. 2. The river up to the boats on first loch ; also, the 



second loch from the top of the stream to the top 



of Mackay's Stream. 

 " No. 3. The south half of the first loch as marked, including 



the stream. 

 " No. 4. From the top of Mackay's Stream to MThaiPs 



Island. 

 " No. 5. From M'Phail's Island, including M'PhaiPs Bay, to 



the top of Loch Langabhat." 



A great feature about these lochs is that they are shallow, 

 and for the most part with gravelly bottom. Like other 

 small and shallow lochs into which fish quickly pass, they are 

 free rising places. The fish do not usually run heavy, about 

 7 1 Ib. being the average for salmon and grilse, with occasional 

 examples of 18, 20, or 27 Ib. When floods occur the fish 

 usually become pretty quickly distributed over the chain of 

 lochs. The great record fishing was, however, accomplished 

 under quite unusual circumstances, an artificial flood being 

 induced which allowed fish into the first loch only. 



Mr. Naylor, who made the record score of 54 fish one day, 

 has already given an account of his fishing in the Fur, Feather, 

 and Fin Series (Salmon). Another account of the whole 

 week's fishing was contributed to the pages of The Field of 

 November 8, 1902, by one of the two others who participated 

 in it Mr. Hansard and this I take the liberty of quoting. 

 The fishing was by fly alone, but it is the habit on the Grimersta 

 to fish two flies on the cast. The year was 1888. 



" That year there had been no flood or even high water since the 

 spring, and I never saw the moors so dry, the edges of the peat looked 

 just like the stacks of fuel ready for burning. By the time we arrived 

 (July 30) there was a great accumulation of fish waiting to run up, 

 and, the river remaining impassable, the stock kept increasing daily. 

 The great run of fish on the Grimersta is from the middle of July till 

 end of August, 



