THE LAXDALE 323 



also enter fresh water at Obe. They are not usually susceptible 

 to the lure of the angler in salt water, and do not hang about 

 tidal channels as sea-trout do. Loch Steisevat is the chief 

 place to expect the salmon to rise, and in its mile of water there 

 is considerable space for plenty of sport. The salmon seldom 

 exceed 9 or 10 Ib. in weight. So far as I know, a fish of 14^ Ib. 

 constitutes the record weight. 



About 1,000 to 1,200 sea-trout and about 70 salmon are 

 expected each season at Obe, but it may be noticed that sea- 

 trout here have to be referred to before salmon, as in other 

 Harris localities. 



LAXDALE 



At low tide this stream winds over a sandy flat, called the 

 Traigh Luskintyre, for about If miles. At high tide the great 

 Traigh, or stretch of shore, is a lagoon shut off from the Sound 

 of Taransay by a narrow barrier of sand and rock. I recollect 

 crossing the narrow channel from the end of this barrier to 

 Luskintyre House on one occasion in a boat which literally 

 leaked like a basket. I don't suppose the passage is more 

 than some 300 or 400 yards, but I had my feet on the seat, 

 and we were all awash when we landed. " Row hard, 

 row hard," shouted a man with me, "I cannot swim, I'll 

 be drowned." He only ceased shouting when we touched 

 bottom. The knee of one of the thwarts came away in my 

 hands when we attempted to pull the boat up. 



A pool has been constructed just above the point where the 

 Laxdale enters the head of the Traigh by the formation of a 

 broad dyke from the left bank, a mass of rocks on the right 

 hemming in the water largely in that direction. This and the 

 sea-pool just below is said to fish well when the tide is out. 

 It has to be remembered, however, that the Laxdale is a late 

 river. On one occasion when I tried this pool on 5th July I 

 was still too early. From the pool, fish are able to ascend 

 freely to four lochs. There is also a Laxdale in Lewie. 



Other sea-trout streams of similar nature occur along this 

 eastern side, some fished by visitors to Tarbert Hotel, those 

 further south by the Hebridean Association. July, August, 

 and September are the best months. 



