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CHAPTER XXI. 

 RIVERS OF ANGUS AND ABERDEENSHIRE. 



THE ESKS. There are several rivers of this name, 

 which signifies water, in Scotland; but as salmon- 

 streams, as well as on account of their size, those belong- 

 ing to Forfarshire are the most important. The NORTH 

 ESK takes its rise in the mountains of Angus, and travels 

 about fifty miles. Its basin may be estimated at two 

 hundred and thirty square miles. Its mean depth is 

 one-and-a-half foot ; and velocity per minute, one hun- 

 dred and ten feet ; the breadth where it enters the sea 

 being forty-seven yards. This river is formed, properly 

 speaking, by the junction of three smaller streams, 

 the Lee, the Mark, and the Brany. During the upper 

 part of its course, it receives the Effock, Tarf, Keeny, 

 and Turret, along with other petty rivulets. The 

 Lee, augmented by the Unach, passes through a small 

 lake before joining the Mark and Brany. Further 

 down, the North Esk receives the West, Cruik, and 

 Luther streams. The trout in these waters are gene- 

 rally small, but plentiful ; those of the Cruik and Luther 

 are noted for their fine flavour. The coast-fishings for 

 salmon at the foot of the North Esk were at one time 

 very valuable; and, including those of the river, 

 brought, as late as 1837, a rental of 3591. In these 

 fishings, which extend but a small way, as many as 

 three thousand fish, salmon, grilses, and sea-trout, have 



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