SCOTLAND 135 



net fishing at the mouth has decreased in value by 

 probably 50 per cent. He thinks that the cause is 

 the bag -net fishing farther seaward, outside the 

 Sutors of Cromarty. The nets have been increased 

 a hundredfold within the three years. It is notice- 

 able that the net fishing at the mouth of the river is 

 fairly good, after the weekly close time, on Monday 

 mornings ; during the rest of the week it is in- 

 different. 



The CONON, in Ross -shire, is by nature a fine 

 river. The many pools are attractive both to 

 salmon and to sportsmen. Within quite recent 

 years they yielded ample baskets. Latterly, I learn, 

 the angling has fallen off. Colonel Stewart - 

 Mackenzie of Seaforth attributes this to excessive 

 fishing by nets in the sea, and especially by those 

 off the Sutors of Cromarty. 



The BERRIEDALE and the LANGWELL, in Caithness, 

 join each other just a little way from the sea. They 

 belong to the Duke of Portland. For six recent 

 seasons sport was equal to the average ; but it was 

 not so good last year, when the rivers suffered from 

 drought. It was evident from the produce of the 

 stake nets in the estuary that the stock of salmon 

 and grilse had not diminished. Sometimes, especially 

 when the wind is from the east, the mouth becomes 

 banked up with shingle, even in fairly good water, 

 and that keeps back the fish. 



The HELMSDALE, in Sutherland, affords a remark- 

 able and very instructive instance of river manage- 

 ment. A carefully detailed account will be given 



