THE ORCHY 365 



by posts as other fishings here are, but is situated between the 

 mouths of the Lochy and the Fhuaran Burn. The upstream 

 limit of Dalmally Hotel water, about 3| miles above this point, 

 is marked by a boundary post, as are the limits of all the other 

 fishings further up. The total extent of Dalmally Hotel water 

 is about 7J miles. Then comes the central section of Craig 

 water, being the pools below the falls. Above this comes the 

 water divided between Craig and Arichastlich already 

 mentioned ; next the water divided between Blackmount 

 (Forest Lodge) and Inveroran Hotel ; and then, between this 

 and Bridge of Orchy, about a mile of water, the Auch fishing. 

 As a matter of fact, the Blackmount water properly extends 

 from the upstream limit of Craig fishing to Loch Tulla, but 

 there seems to be an understanding that opposite the Auch 

 bank the Forest Lodge tenant does not fish. 



Spring fishing is confined to the water below the falls. 

 The water above the falls fishes only in summer and autumn. 

 From what has been already said of the main fall, this 

 will be sufficiently clear. The Craig pools below the fall are 

 the chief pools where early fish congregate, since it is against 

 their habit to proceed further till the water rises in tempera- 

 ture. 



The Dalmally Hotel water is, however, of great beauty, there 

 being a fine series of streams and pools with gravel banks. In 

 general character this lower Orchy is singularly like the lower 

 Lochy on a smaller scale. Much depends, however, on the 

 condition of the Awe in the early months of the year in making 

 or marring the success of the Orchy. Mr. MacLaren, the 

 Dalmally hotel-keeper, has kindly furnished me with some 

 returns for the hotel water. From these it appears that 

 between 30 and 40 salmon of good weight may be expected 

 in a season, but if a season should be very dry and fish do 

 not manage to ascend the lower river freely, the catch 

 may be as low as about 16 or 17. 



With regard to the upper Orchy, there is the additional 

 uncertainty of suitable water for fish to ascend the falls below. 

 What is wanted is that early summer should be wet, and that a 

 good stock of fish should have run through the Awe in spring. 

 The best performance I know of on the Inveroran water is 



