SCOTLAND 171 



The NORTH ESK has its source in LOCH LEE, and, 

 after a course of close on thirty miles, falls into 

 the sea about two miles north of Montrose. Mr. 

 David Lyall of Gallery, who was brought up on the 

 banks of the river and is now nearly eighty years 

 of honoured age, courteously gives me an interesting 

 note : 



"For the first fourteen miles, or thereby, the 

 North Esk is in Forfarshire, and within the lands of 

 Lord Dalhousie, on both banks. On entering the 

 next estate, The Burn, it forms in a general way the 

 boundary betwixt the shires of Forfar and Kincardine. 

 I say ' in a general way,' because at three points at 

 least the Forfarshire estates cross to the north side 

 of the river, carrying the county march with them, 

 and about two miles from its mouth, at Kinnaber 

 Haugh, Kincardineshire extends to the south bank. 

 The riparian rights of the estates are very intricate 

 after leaving the Dalhousie territory. In no case 

 should lands be purchased on either bank with- 

 out the most careful inquiry as to the fishing 

 rights. These are not usually corresponsive with 

 the frontage to the river. The sporting capacities 

 of the river are naturally of the best ; but the salmon 

 do not have fair play. The river has been converted 

 into a ' manufacturers' stream.' There are five weirs 

 Arnhall, Pert, Kirktonhill, Craigo, and Morphie. 

 These have ' passes ' ; but some of them are far from 

 efficient. Over the one at Craigo fish get only 

 when there is flood water. The autumn seasons 

 of 1904 and 1905, dry times, were very poor. 



