STORAGE AND PASSES 275 



of August. The result was disappointment on all 

 the salmon rivers. Some held a few fish ; but these 

 had been so long in the water that they would not 

 look at lures. In other rivers the salmon were not 

 higher than the estuaries, waiting for the floods 

 which did not come until after the close of the 

 season. 



While " too little water " is a frequent complaint 

 among sportsmen, too much is not unheard of. 

 There is nearly always an excess after a heavy rain. 

 Certain rivers are so broad that they can be fished 

 effectively only from a boat, and, even with a pair of 

 stalwart Highland gillies at the oars, a boat can- 

 not hold its own against the torrent which follows 

 an abundant rain. Besides, although, as has been 

 admitted, the net fisheries seem to be as productive 

 as ever, it is not unreasonable to suppose that inter- 

 ference with the order of Nature in the rivers must 

 eventually, if measures to neutralise it are not taken, 

 reduce the stock. Spent fish are readily susceptible 

 to attack from the " bacillus salmonis pestis " ; often, 

 when the spring rains are dilatory, their departure 

 to the sea is delayed; every unnatural hour they 

 spend in the fresh water is an extra risk, not only 

 to themselves, but also to the whole stock of their 

 particular river. 



The measures which are being taken on the 

 Thurso have every prospect of success. They are, 

 as has been said, an experiment ; but, as will be 

 shown immediately, they are not without precedent. 

 When storage was under discussion as a theory 



