THE SHIEL 337 



date. When the water is cold, spring fish will not run the 

 rough fall as it is at present. A more gradual transference to 

 fresh water would certainly be a great benefit in this particular 

 respect. 



At present fish are not looked for till the end of May the 

 time when wintry conditions of temperature have given place 

 to the approach of summer, and when spring fish all the country 

 over ascend rough falls for the first time. A few fish have 

 occasionally been taken in April, I believe, probably in mild 

 springs. 



The next pools are The Captain's and The Garrison, both 

 very sluggish, and requiring an upstream breeze for good 

 results. The latter is, however, of good repute. Above this 

 is a pool called The Cliff, which only fishes in high water, but 

 which usually has a good stream. A series of croys have been 

 erected in these pools to improve the lies. 



Next in order of ascent comes the Rock Pool at a narrow and 

 deep rocky channel. It has this advantage, that owing to the 

 draft between the high banks, a slight breeze is readily felt on 

 calm days. Above this is the Bridge Pool, which is not only 

 the best, but much the widest in the river. There are seven 

 different casts in the Bridge Pool : Grassy Point, Providence, 

 Between the Trees, the Parapet, the Gullet, the Big Rock, and 

 the Upper Stage. 



Some of the quieter pools have suffered from the growth of 

 weeds. It seems to be borne out by records that when the 

 river was regularly netted, the sport with the rod was better 

 than it is now. One can well believe that by the regular 

 action of the nets, the weeds had no opportunity of growing. 

 As many as 100 fish are reported to have been taken from the 

 Bridge Pool in one haul, while 63 salmon and grilse were got by 

 two rods in six weeks. 



No netting has now been carried on for many years, and 

 after the nets were taken off, the rod results improved, but 

 later a decline seems to have set in. Suggestions have been 

 made for the possible increase of the weekly close time in the 

 sea nets and even for the re-introduction of netting in the 

 river for one day a week. 



I certainly think the weeds should be got rid of, but I am 

 inclined to think that the croys which have been introduced 



Y 



