346 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



works of the canal, as accessible to salmon as was the case 

 before the outlet was changed. 



" It is, moreover, submitted that this is exactly a case to 

 which the provisions of the existing Act, and the powers it 

 confers upon the Commissioners to make by-laws, are intended 

 to apply." 



As a result, apparently, of negotiations respecting this ob- 

 struction at Mucomer, Mr. Ellice and Lochiel obtained the con- 

 sent of -the Canal Commissioners to the construction of a salmon 

 pass in 1874. In 1878 the pass was completed. It is a little 

 difficult, at this date, to see the full design of the pass either 

 from the banks at the fall or from the bridge above, but on 

 communicating with the late Mr. Malcolm, then Commissioner 

 to Mrs. Ellice, I received for inspection the original plans and 

 specification. The elevation of rock dealt with was 16 feet. 

 The top of the pass enters and traverses the central arch of the 

 bridge, where a series of irregular step-like excavations of 

 considerable extent were formed. The pass is then carried 

 in a transverse manner across the fall below the bridge and the 

 weir in the west arch ; then curving downstream, enters 

 Mucomer Pool close to the right bank of the fall, where three 

 pools were formed (which still remain) by the erection of 

 built barriers. The length of the pass was about 120 feet. 

 Including the clearing of rock at the entrance and outlet, the 

 average gradient is only 1 in 8. The volume of water is 

 large, and many of the seven steps and breaks are so abrupt 

 that even now, when 43 years of wearing have passed, the 

 amount of broken and very heavy water is very marked. This 

 is quite out of keeping with what experience teaches are the 

 essential features of a good pass at an obstacle of this kind. 

 Moreover, if the fall be viewed when the water-level is above 

 normal it will be seen that the transverse section of the pass 

 is completely swept by the water descending the weir already 

 referred to. Indeed, at such times two-thirds of the pass is 

 raging white water. When the river is not too high, large 

 numbers of salmon and sea-trout do, in the summer and 

 autumn, ascend this pass. It is not, however, a pass which 

 spring fish will ever freely ascend, and only spring fish 

 would be of sporting value in Loch Lochy, as they are in 

 Loch Ness or Loch Tay or other large and deep lochs 



