THE DOON 391 



difficulty is not in the pass, but in the river Doon lower down. 



Ness Glen, through which the Doon first rushes, has a 

 steepish gradient and much broken cascaded water, quite 

 sufficient, when the water temperature is low, to prevent spring 

 fish ascending. It is a beautiful defile, but a rather forbidding 

 stair for spring salmon. When the water temperature has lost 

 its wintry character, fish will ascend without hesitation. Fish 

 tend, as a matter of fact, to congregate in the lower and larger 

 pools of Ness Glen. Great changes were brought about at 

 Loch Doon during the war. Most people heard about the 

 aerial gunnery school and all its auxiliary works, just as they 

 heard about Chepstow and Slough. I saw the place when 

 German prisoners were dismantling it, after it was an admitted 

 failure. 



The level of Loch Doon was not altered, but an entirely new 

 outlet from the loch had been made in which, however, pro- 

 vision had been prepared for the ascent of salmon. A new 

 road had been made to the hideous new village at the end of 

 the loch. A new channel had been cut for the river above the 

 Bogton Loch lower down. Now that these alterations are 

 abandoned, it is difficult to surmise what the ultimate result 

 will be, but I am inclined to the view that the salmon interests, 

 on the whole, are not greatly prejudiced. 



Before leaving this source of the Doon, it is proper to notice 

 that here already exist the conditions under which the 

 regulation of waterflow can be carried out, so as to store water 

 in winter, increase the natural flow in summer, and, if need be, 

 send a moderate flood down the river, when the fishing would 

 be benefited thereby. Reference may be made to the chapter 

 dealing with the Helmsdale for a discussion of the benefits to 

 be derived from well-regulated operations of this kind. 



About 2^ miles below Loch Doon the river, when opposite 

 Dalmellington, widens out into the shallow but extensive 

 diverticulum, known as Bogton Loch, already mentioned. 

 This has been largely drained. Below this the river commences 

 to wind about, and this it continues to do to an ever-increasing 

 extent till it reaches the sea, although it does not cross the 

 500 feet contour till Patna is reached. A couple of miles below 

 Bogton a small burn enters on the right, called the Rough 

 Burn, which passes through most extensive ironworks, and 



