THE ECHAIG AND LOCH ECK 381 



miles, it flows from a large loch Loch Eck and, therefore, 

 maintains a better volume of water than is the case in Argyll- 

 shire streams which flow directly from the hills. Loch Eck is 

 6 miles long, of very considerable depth, narrow, surrounded 

 by high and most picturesque mountains, and 67 feet above 

 sea-level. The stream which flows into the head of Loch Eck 

 is the Cur, which gives its name to the village situated on 

 Lochfyneside, Strachur, from which a bend of the Cur is only 

 about a mile distant, but with which the strath has really no 

 connection. This Cur is the head spawning ground of Echaig 

 fish. It is about 6 miles in length, and a good running, gravelly 

 little river, although slack and gentle as it approaches the 

 loch. 



The Echaig has a rather winding course, and on the whole 

 an easy gradient in its run from Loch Eck to the sea at the 

 head of Holy Loch well known to Clyde yachtsmen. The 

 exclusive salmon fishing rights go with the Benmore property, 

 and are strictly preserved. The rainfall in this district is 

 generally copious, although in summer, owing to the steep 

 rocky hills on every side, if the season does become dry, the 

 heat is often intense, and, perhaps, I might add, the midges 

 most bloodthirsty. With the physical features as they are, a 

 splendid opportunity presents itself for the storing up of Loch 

 Eck waters in order to secure an ample water supply in the river 

 during the summer months, when fish naturally will run, and 

 when sport may be had. When the Echaig runs low, and I 

 have seen it very low indeed, fish, unable to get up, accumulate 

 in great numbers at the mouth, where, perhaps with ample 

 verity it may be said, they unduly tempt the local " scringer." 

 I know that plenty of unlawful netting has been carried on here 

 in the past, and, although some wholesome lessons have been 

 given, a new generation will inevitably arise. An artificial 

 flood let down at such a time would draw fish up into the pools, 

 as it does in the Helmsdale or the Grimersta. 



One of the troubles in the Echaig in the past, also, has been 

 that when the river was in good running order fish did not take 

 long to travel straight through to Loch Eck. There would 

 inevitably be a fish-pass on the weir at the loch outlet, but even 

 a very low weir and a high structure would not by any means 

 be required would afford in all probability a most useful 



