THE SOLWAY DEE 413 



hill land, but by the time it reaches the old Bridge of Urr, it 

 has passed into a wide plain, and the remainder of its track is 

 sinuous and of easy gradient, although usually with a pleasant 

 run. The scenery of the lower reaches is very charming. The 

 river is never of any great size. Before Dalbeattie is reached 

 it flows for a short way parallel to the railway, winding round 

 wooded bluffs and skirting rich meadows. Even as low as 

 this it is a stream you could kick your hat across. 



At Dalbeattie it is joined by the Kirkgunzeon Lane, which 

 helps to swell its waters. As Palnackie is approached it 

 becomes flat and quiet, and small craft manage to penetrate 

 the tidal waters. The estuary of the Urr includes not only 

 Rough Firth but Auchencairn Bay, which rounds Almoreness 

 Point to the west. In the latter part of the estuary The Special 

 Solway Commission, in 1879, granted certificates for four fixed 

 engines with seven pockets opposite Orchardton on the south- 

 east side of Whiteport Bay, at Torr, and at Balcary. 



In the matter of close time the Urr has the distinction of 

 rivalling the Tweed in lateness. Angling goes on to 29th 

 November, and certainly, so far as salmon are concerned, 

 angling can only be carried on very late in the Urr. Fish do 

 not enter this little river early. A net is, I understand, occa- 

 sionally drawn near the mouth, but many fish are not found 

 before the end of the netting season on 9th September. Per- 

 mission to angle in the Urr may be secured by ticket from 

 Robert Maxwell, bookseller, High Street, Dalbeattie. 



Although fish are late they are sometimes surprisingly heavy 

 for so small a stream. I understand that fish up to 40 Ib. have 

 been taken. 



THE SOLWAY DEE 



ANGLING SEASON: llth February to 31st October. 

 NETTING SEASON: llth February to 26th August. 



District Board meets in Kirkcudbright. 



This is a river which has never had much of a chance. A 

 spring run still continues, grilse are unusually heavy, and large 

 fish enter at " the back end." There is plenty of potential 

 development possible, but there are many difficulties. 



