388 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



and has apparently been erected purely in order to protect 

 the scouring of the river banks in a way which might under- 

 mine the long and carefully pitched apron of the upper dyke. 

 This lower dyke is practically 5 feet high, has an iron sill, and 

 a smooth concave cement face terminating in a second iron 

 beam. Immediately below is a deep pool. About 150 yards 

 above this is the main weir for the supply of water to Catrine 

 Mills. This is an easy-sloping weir with a bad, and probably 

 pretty recently added sill which materially adds to the height. 

 A pass has been constructed at each of these weirs, and the 

 upper waters of Ayr, extending to about 15 miles, are once 

 more open to salmon. Some conception of the amount of 

 water which is abstracted at this weir will be formed when I 

 say that the deep and broad lade which passes off from the 

 right bank is conveyed by means of a quite extensive aqueduct 

 to the top of a high power-house, in which the famous Catrine 

 wheels are made to revolve and to develop about 500 horse- 

 power. The two water-wheels work in unison side by side. 

 Each wheel is 50 feet in diameter and 12 feet wide. In dry 

 weather all the river Ayr is conducted over those wheels. At 

 a time such as this I have walked up the dry bed of the river 

 for about three-quarters of a mile from the outfall to the 

 intake and been reminded of the evidence of a certain Scots- 

 man before a Committee of the House of Lords, who, to one 

 interrogation, replied : " Weel, my Lord, in oor country it's a 

 weel kent fac' that whar there's nae water there can be nae 

 fush." 



The numbers of fish now seen in the Ayr are reported as 

 having greatly increased, but as yet fishing is confined to 

 summer and autumn. I see no reason, however, why in course 

 of time spring fish should not be found in the Ayr as in the 

 Doon, unless the pollutions at the river mouth become too 

 much for them. Grilse run early in June, and the fishing 

 commences with the first of the grilse. A good number of 

 sea-trout ascend in July, and help to increase the opportunities 

 of sport. Salmon fishing is practically confined to August, 

 September, and October. In recent years the heaviest fish 

 known to be taken has been 28 Ib. Other years had as their 

 heaviest fish 25 Ib., 24 Ib., and 24f Ib. With regard to the 

 total taken by rod it is unfortunately almost impossible to 



