376 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



Fortunately the river is only 6 miles long, and only about 

 half that distance is grossly polluted ; but in dry weather fish 

 are much sickened in the lower reaches, and are apt to become 

 rather easy prey to loafers. An angling association the Loch 

 Lomond Angling Improvement Association have extended 

 their sphere of operations from Loch Lomond and the upper 

 streams to the Leven and the Clyde, having leased the net 

 fishings of the lower waters. Operations of a protective kind 

 have also been extended to the Gare Loch. One netting " shot ' ' 

 is fished inside the mouth of the Leven, and the Clyde nets are 

 now not worked. An excellent system of granting tickets on 

 easy terms to workers in the Vale of Leven has had a wholesome 

 effect of securing many protectors ; about 300 of these are 

 annually taken out. 



One point which is of interest is that clean fish are now being 

 got as early as March. I have no doubt that with a revival of 

 stock an excellent spring run that most valuable asset may 

 be obtained, and sport secured not only in the upper Leven 

 but also in Loch Lomond. I recollect that Colonel Thornton, 

 in his Tour in the North, written about one hundred years ago, 

 describes how he caught 8 salmon one morning before 

 breakfast in the Leven. The Loch Lomond Angling Associa- 

 tion are doing much to improve the general conditions and as 

 far as possible restore the stock. 



LOCH LOMOND 



The change from the polluted Leven to beautiful Loch 

 Lomond is like a step from a sordid slum to fairyland. The 

 richly-wooded islands of the broad southern end, the varied 

 shores, the long vista of water towards the head of the loch 

 framed in the steep slopes of the mountains, the dominating 

 peaks of Ben Lomond and Ben Vorlich, all combine to give one 

 of the most charming loch scenes in Scotland. 



In winter when the bracken is red, when the hill- tops have 

 a powdering of snow, when the light is brilliant, and a nip of 

 frost sharpens the air, the loch looks its finest. I have seen 

 the loch, too, in one of its wildest winter moods, when terrific 

 squalls struck down from the hills, sending spindrift flying 40 



