338 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



will gradually improve matters and that their number might 

 perhaps be increased. 



The picturesque old bridge is now closed for traffic, and to 

 take its place the late Mr. Rudd built a new bridge some little 

 distance farther up. The old bridge is a simple structure of 

 one arch, spanning the river at the Gullet, which is a narrow 

 and very deep cleft in the large barrier of rock which here 

 projects, and which probably at one time formed the lower end 

 of the loch. 



I believe the water in this narrow neck to be about 30 feet 

 deep. More than half a mile of river still exists, but for the 

 most part is broad and rather shallow, with no pool-like 

 character, and with flat, grassy banks. The upper part merges 

 imperceptibly into the loch. This stretch is called the Boat 

 Pool, since it is fished from a boat, although I understand that 

 from a point above the new bridge a cast from the bank is 

 possible when the river is high. The boat is used on alternate 

 half -days by the two proprietors. It is reckoned that on an 

 average season 100 fish should be landed on each bank. The 

 late Mr. Stone has, I believe, taken as many as 72 fish in eight 

 weeks. 



A good run of grilse generally occurs in June, and the grilse 

 are heavy. At the same time the river holds a large number 

 of sea-trout, many of the casts not very productive for salmon 

 being excellent for the smaller salmonid. The best single 

 day's catch by one rod of sea-trout is, I believe, 88. At the 

 back end of the year salmon run fairly heavy, although I am 

 not aware that any fish over 27 Ib. has actually been landed. 



The neighbouring river Moidart has a total length of 7 

 miles, and passes through a small lochan near Glenmoidart 

 House. The water available for fishing is not very extensive, 

 and the river is subject to very heavy and rather sudden floods, 

 like others, draining the steep land of this region. It flows 

 into the head of Loch Moidart, a shallow and muddy arm of 

 the sea, completely sheltered, and 2 miles inland from Eilean 

 Shona. The fishing is in the hands of the proprietor, and the 

 district is as completely isolated, physically, from the outer 

 world as any in Scotland. Success depends a good deal on the 

 rainfall, but I understand that about a score of salmon are 

 looked for in the season. 



