422 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



holding pools, here and there an outcrop of rock beneath steep 

 and richly wooded banks, would make most attractive angling 

 to the fly fisher if only he was assured that salmon were present 

 to be attracted by his lure. One does not need to catch salmon 

 to enjoy salmon angling, but one requires the consciousness 

 that there is the possibility of catching salmon, that one is not 

 exercising one's skill in quite barren water. 



It is remarkable that in the whole drainage area of the Nith, 

 in spite of many tributaries, there is no loch. With the 

 exception of four small lochs which drain into the tide-way 

 south of Dumfries, lochs are conspicuous by their absence. 



The neighbouring river Annan is always regarded as a much 

 better salmon river than the Nith ; and has a rent-roll from 

 salmon fisheries of fully 3,000. A certain proportion of this, 

 no doubt, is derived from fixed nets in the Solway, the Nith 

 District not having a similar source of income ; but this does 

 not account for the great discrepancy of rental. The Nith 

 figure is only a little over 500, yet the Nith has a drainage area 

 of 435 square miles, while the Annan has only 350 square miles. 



The catch of salmon both by net and rod is a mere bagatelle 

 compared with what it should be. In 1905 it had sunk so low 

 that only 119 salmon and 90 grilse and 3,907 sea-trout were 

 taken in the nets, while the rod fishings did not yield, I suppose, 

 two score, a return I have seen for 1902 did not make a total 

 of one score, and the totals for recent seasons seem to average 

 about 20. 



The reasons for the decline in the past have been threefold : 

 (a) pollutions from Dumfries and Maxwelltown, (6) over- 

 netting, (c) the obstruction of almost all the tributaries. 



An important official enquiry was held on the question of 

 pollution, on grounds other than the interests of the fisheries. 

 The tidal waters below Dumfries were, in consequence, declared 

 by the Secretary for Scotland to be " a stream " a technical 

 requirement to enable the proper authorities to deal with 

 pollutions in tidal waters and in consequence the Municipality 

 was called upon to purify its effluents. Sewage works were 

 constructed and were completed in 1905. 



This has made a material difference. The Parliamentary 

 Burgh of Dumfries has a population of about 18,000. But up 

 to the present the trade waste and it comes from such 



