THE SNIZORT 325 



RIVERS OF SKYE 



ANGLING SEASON : llth February to 31st October. 

 NETTING SEASON: llth February to 26th August. 



A Joint District Fishery Board sits in Portree. 



The Isle of Skye is divided into two fishery districts, Snizort 

 and Sligachan, and although many small streams exist with 

 short courses at different parts of the island, salmon are chiefly 

 confined to the two main rivers which give their names to the 

 districts. 



THE SNIZORT 



is the largest river in the island, and flows in a northerly 

 direction into the large and ramifying sea loch of the same 

 name on the north-west coast, the district of Trotternish being 

 on the right hand, and Vaternish on the left. It may be said 

 to have three sources : that in the central position which is 

 also practically the centre of Skye rises below the hill called 

 Roineval ; that to the west from Loch Duagrich in the parish 

 of Bracadale ; that from the east from beside the Glenmore 

 and Mugeary clachans. 



These head streams unite at a point about six miles from the 

 mouth of the river at Skeabost, and about 300 feet above the 

 sea. In general character the Snizort is a rocky rather rapid 

 river, flowing through one of the long gentle inclines of this 

 northern portion of the island, which have been described as 

 " weary wastes expanding to the skies." At times the river 

 slows up in a few open pools, but much of the channel is rather 

 shallow and stony, with occasional cascades. At Skeabost 

 there is a fall which has had an excellent passage blasted 

 through it, so that much better fishing has been created for a 

 couple of miles up, and a deal of flooding obviated. A large 

 number of salmon frequently ascend at the spawning season, 

 and make a short stay in fresh water, falling back to the tidal 

 pools at the mouth to recover condition to the necessary extent 

 before putting to sea again. 



The arm of Loch Snizort Beag, into which the river flows, 

 is a shallow tidal channel, left bare at low-water for about 

 half its length a place where oysters grow well. The estuary 



