THE MORAR AND SHIEL DISTRICTS 329 



weapon is quite innocent, and is used for the purpose of freeing 

 the angler's worm-tackle from the rocks of the pool bottom, as 

 " hanking " is frequent. 



The Broad Pool below is a pleasant cast, and although 

 somewhat shallow, often fishes very well ; 78 fish have 

 been got. The lowest pool called for some, to me, 

 unknown reason, the Island Pool is just above the road 

 bridge, which crosses close to the river mouth below the railway 

 bridge. In this pool fish pause just after leaving the sea creek 

 immediately below. In the narrow gut into which the river 

 empties, large numbers of fish may sometimes be seen, as in the 

 Fall Pool, and this tidal pool gives a fourth cast. The water is 

 never dirty, though in flood it is much broken and aerated. 

 The deep loch above is always clear. 



The sea creek is a joy to the eye. The floor and margins are 

 in great part of white sand, over which the translucent waters 

 of the Western Ocean show green and pure. Here and there 

 a rocky point runs out with a rim of foam, shining over violet 

 and purple weeds. The land on either side is broken and 

 polished. Beyond is the vivid streak of the Sound of Sleat, 

 and the whole is backed by the wonderful outlines of the 

 Cuchullin Hills of Skye. 



The right bank of the river is owned by Lord Lovat, whose 

 tenant for many years has been Mr. W. H. Caldwell ; the left 

 bank by Lady Nicholson of Arisaig. North Morar Lodge and 

 South Morar Lodge stand on each side respectively, and the 

 fishing is let with the lodges. The latter lodge is generally 

 called Rhubana. Three other proprietors come in on the loch, 

 and all five fishings are subject to the peculiarity that the 

 rights held can only be exercised ad medium filum. Before 

 the railway came, Morar was distinctly inaccessible, and 

 one has generally to yield a certain amount of beauty to 

 utility. 



At the railway terminus at Mallaig, which is the next station, 

 there is now a large hotel with every comfort, as well as a 

 harbour of a somewhat prescribed order, perhaps where 

 steamers come and go in the summer time. 



On my first expedition to Morar and its neighbourhood 

 Mallaig was a mere clachan of thatched cottages, a sort of 

 jumping-off place, from which a small lug-sail ferry-boat could 



