326 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



of the river is drawn, as regards its seaward limit, at the mouth 

 of Loch Snizort Beag, but no fixed nets are now fished on this 

 side of Skye. 



SLIGACHAN RIVER, 



like the Snizort, flows, as it were, along the main axis of the 

 island, about north-north-west, although Loch Sligachan, the 

 sea loch into which it discharges, lies north-east. Loch 

 Sligachan, which forms the natural estuary of the river, is a 

 dark -looking narrow inlet with high land on either side ; its 

 entrance is directly opposite Kyle More the passage between 

 the south end of Raasay and Scalpay, as if the denuding force 

 which formed Loch Sligachan had also carved the separation 

 of the two outlying islands. On this east coast of Skye numer- 

 ous bag nets are fished, but none come near this river. Most 

 are set along the high straight coast north of Portree. 



The Sligachan may be said to rise from the little Dubh Loch, 

 which is 4 miles from the mouth, but the stream which 

 comes down Harta Corrie for 2 miles from a very high source 

 joins the outlet from the Dubh Loch, and must, therefore, be 

 regarded as the real source. This Harta Corrie drains the 

 steep ridge of Drumhain, which on its southern aspect overlooks 

 Loch Coruisk. 



To those who know the Cuillins, the mention of Sligachan is 

 the mention of the eastern boundary of those wonderful hills. 

 The inn, near the mouth of the river, is the headquarters for 

 climbing. Many a tired man has thankfully reached this 

 hospitable roof. Here for many years the only map of the 

 Cuillins drawn by Mr. Pilkington was to be found, for the 

 Ordnance Survey never attempted to plot those mountains, 

 the expense being considered out of all proportion to the value. 



Receiving its main supply of water from these enormously 

 steep faces of gabro, in a country famous for its rains, it will 

 be understood that the Sligachan is capable, in a wonderfully 

 short time, of rising in great flood. When the river is dead 

 low as it sometimes is in a dry June, and I have really seen 

 several Junes dry in Skye the river is little but an exposed 

 track of boulders. As a fishing stream it has to be taken just 

 at the right time by the man on the spot. It belongs to Lord 



