368 RIVERS OF ANGUS AND ABERDEENSHIRE. 



ancients, have spread its reputation far and wide. It 

 has been affirmed, upon reasonable grounds, that the 

 large pearl in the crown of Scotland is part of the 

 produce of this river, and there is no doubt that a 

 patent was granted to one Robert Buchan for the fish- 

 ing of pearl-mussels on the Ythan, and afterwards with- 

 drawn by act of parliament, in the reign of Charles the 

 First. The pearl in question is said to have been found 

 at the junction of the water of Kelly with the main 

 river, near Haddo House. 



Ythan takes its rise in the parish of Forgue. Its 

 course extends twenty-seven miles, and its height above 

 the level of the sea at Fyvie Castle is one hundred and 

 twenty-four feet. For about four miles at the mouth, 

 the water is brackish, being influenced by the sea tides. 

 It is esteemed, along with most of its tributaries, a 

 first-rate trouting stream. Salmon, sea-trout, and fin- 

 nocks ascend it in considerable quantities. Ythan is 

 much resorted to by anglers from Aberdeen. Its 

 salmon-fishings belong to the Hon. W. Gordon, of 

 Ellon, and are rented by the Earl of Aberdeen. The 

 principal feeders are the Ebrie, Brony, and Foveran, all 

 of which are in high esteem among anglers. There are 

 inns at Newburgh, Ellon, Methlick, and Lewes of Fyvie. 

 A few lochs are situated not far from the mouth of the 

 river, the principal of which is the Muckle loch of 

 Slains. There are also two lakes, covering about forty 

 acres of ground, within the policies of Haddo House. 



The only other river in Aberdeenshire deserving 

 notice is the UGIE, which flows into the sea near Peter- 

 head. It is formed of two streams or branches, the 

 North and South Ugies the one rising in the parish of 

 Aberdour, and the other, or principal branch, in that 

 of New Deer. These unite at Longside, and enter the 



