322 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



means of which access is more easily obtained to the various 

 waters. Finsbay and Rodel are now the two bases of the 

 association from which fishing is carried on. At the former 

 a deal of fly-fishing is practised in the narrow sea channels or 

 kyles, and some large baskets have been made, especially in 

 the year 1890, before the association took up residence. Rodel 

 was formerly the residence of the proprietor, and from it the 

 famous Obe fishings are reached at the south end of the island. 



QBE 



The principal features here are a fairly large fresh-water loch, 

 called Loch Steisevat, close to a large salt-water channel, 

 winding in from the Sound of Harris. From time to time 

 artificial channels have been formed in different places so as to 

 make the communication between the fresh and the salt water 

 in the most advantageous manner, and these channels have 

 commonly been sluiced for the purpose of controlling the water- 

 flow. 



The fresh water flows first into what is called The Mill Pool, a 

 shallow basin not reached by salt water in the lowest neaps, 

 but freely filled during spring tides. Ordinary half-neap tides 

 raise its level about 18 inches. From this Mill Pool the tidal 

 channel has a strong current up and down, and about half-way 

 to the sea there is a pool in which fish congregate. 



The Mill Pool yields good sport with sea-trout as early as 

 March and April, but the great bulk of the fish are finnock or 

 herling, i.e. the juvenile grilse stage of the sea-trout. More 

 adult fish of 2, 3, 4, and even on occasion up to 8 lb., are, or 

 have been, got. About 600 to 700 sea-trout, small and great, 

 may be expected in a good spring. 



The tidal channel lower down yields the chief fishing in 

 summer and autumn, particularly in the pool already referred 

 to. It is noticeable, however, that fish do not take well in the 

 salt-water channel if much fresh water is descending from Loch 

 Steisevat and the lochs above. If a flood or considerable rise 

 is " on," fishing is transferred to Loch Steisevat into which the 

 fish naturally travel. 



A considerable sprinkling of salmon and grilse, mostly grilse, 



