THE GIRVAN 395 



better regulation and supervision which now obtain, the river, 

 as may be judged from the above scores, has risen to very 

 considerable value. Moreover, the proprietors are further 

 considering propositions for its improvement, and, if the 

 necessary combination of interests can only be satisfactorily 

 secured, I have no doubt the value of the Doon will still further 

 increase. 



RIVER GIRVAN 



ANGLING SEASON : 25th February to 31st October. 

 NETTING SEASON : 25th February to 9th September. 



District Board meets in Girvan. 



The Girvan rises in the high ground of Carrick from a little 

 lochan called Loch Girvan Eye. As a small stream it flows 

 northward past the head waters of the Stinchar, through Lochs 

 Cornish, Skelloch, Lure, and Bradan, passes close to Loch 

 Derclach and Loch Finlas, which send their waters into Loch 

 Doon (and also nowadays, I believe, to the town of Ayr), and, 

 after bending to the westward, falls over Fairlaw Linn. On 

 account of this high linn this section of the river is closed to 

 salmon. 



The river from the linn to the sea has a course of 23 miles, 

 making a wide bend to the north-west by Straiten and Kirk- 

 michael, and then flowing south-west, with many windings, 

 to the town of Girvan on the coast. So great is the sweep 

 northwards taken by the river, that though the total length 

 is some 30 odd miles, the source to sea distance is only 14 miles. 



No one who is familiar with the Girvan would describe it as a 

 rough river, as has been done by a recent writer. In many 

 parts it is sluggish, winding upon itself as sluggish rivers do. 

 In other parts the general character is like that of the Doon ; 

 there are pleasant pools alternating with more or less gentle 

 runs. Only in the topmost section is there any roughness. 

 It is a river with thick, grassy banks and many trees, fine 

 parks, and picturesque old castles. 



As a salmon river the Girvan has suffered dreadfully from the 

 three worst combinations pollution, overnetting, and obstruc- 

 tive dam-dykes. The Irvine and the Garnock rivers, which 



