336 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



of mails, is secured through his Lordship maintaining a small 

 steamer on the loch, the use of which is open to all. The place 

 of landing and departure is at a small staging in the mouth of 

 the Gallop. A larger pier exists at Acharacle. 



At the lower end of the loch the chief sport is got with sea- 

 trout, of which large numbers are often present. It sometimes 

 happens, however, that fish are mostly found above the narrows 

 or even at Glenfinnan. Salmon and grilse are not got every 

 day, but may be fished for either trolling or with fly. The 

 brown trout often run heavy, but sport is somewhat uncertain. 



RIVER SHIEL 



This river, which forms the boundary between Inverness- 

 shire and Argyll, is only about 2f miles in length, and as Loch 

 Shiel is only between 11 feet and 12 feet above sea-level the 

 gradient of the river is extremely easy. The photograph 

 showing the river pouring down into the tidal basin at the 

 mouth scarcely gives this impression, but this part, when the 

 tide is out, is the only piece of rough water there is. Most of 

 the river is also three or four times as broad as is shown at the 

 mouth, for here the rocky barrier confines and dams back the 

 flow. The pool just above this barrier is called the Sea Pool, 

 but although the rise and fall is very considerable in Loch 

 Moidart, I am not aware that the tide ever flows into the Sea 

 Pool, although high springs may dam up the fresh water. The 

 Sea Pool is about 200 yards long, and has a fair stream. 



I think the point is worthy of consideration whether or not 

 benefit would not result from cutting down the rocky barrier 

 at the mouth, and at the same time deepening the channel 

 upwards so as to draw a better current through the St. Columba 

 and Road Pools above. I understand that the Road Pool is 

 not now a productive cast, and that there is a troublesome 

 growth of weed in all the still parts of the river. If action 

 of this kind were taken, it is possible that the Sea Pool might 

 be reduced in value at the expense of the others, and at present 

 I believe the Sea Pool ranks about third favourite in the river. 

 But besides the increased current a compensating advantage 

 would very likely follow in giving fish an easier entrance from 

 the sea, when, in all probability, fish would run at an earlier 



