278 FLY FISHING AND SPINNING 



fish does not begin until July, the rod fishing coming to an 

 end at the end of October. 



MR. GATHORNE-HARDY 



Referring to the Hon. A. E. Gathorne-Hardy's charming 

 and interesting contribution, " The Salmon," to the very 

 excellent series, " Fur, Feather, and Fin " (Longmans 

 & Co.), this gentleman says with reference to the River 

 Add:- 



" The little river that I know best, having fished it 

 regularly for the best part of a quarter of a century, 

 is the Add, which rises in the hills near Loch Fyne, 

 and, after a short but rapid course through gorges 

 and over rocks, descends into the plain, and for the last 

 few miles of its career meanders slowly through the 

 partially reclaimed peat moss which fills the valley 

 opposite Crinan Bay, into which it ultimately 

 discharges its waters close to the western outlet of 

 the Crinan Canal. The lower part of the river winds 

 round and round through the soft soil, the curves 

 being so sharp that a straight line of about a quarter 

 of a mile in length would cross the river three times. 

 The stream has cut itself a deep channel through the 

 peat, and the banks are high above the water, protect- 

 ing it from the wind, which, as the current is naturally 

 sluggish, is very necessary for successful fishing, 

 except immediately after a heavy flood. The river, 

 like all small West Highland streams, rises and falls 

 with extreme rapidity, and the upper part of the water 

 is only really in order for one day after a flood, and the 

 lower for two the first day being usually the best." 

 From Mr. Gathorne-Hardy's description, it will be seen 

 that this river may be divided into two portions, the lower 

 part being sluggish and therefore unsuitable for spawning 

 beds, and the upper part offering extreme difficulties to 

 ascending salmon. 



