380 RIVERS OP THE MORAY FIRTH. 



The salmon-fishing at the mouth of the Nairn, and 

 along the shore, draws a rent of about sixty or seventy 

 pounds. The upper fishings are worth, in point of pro- 

 duce, five or six pounds. 



The course of the NESS, from its parent lake to the 

 sea, is not more than eight miles long; its width is 

 about sixty-five yards, and the average depth of the 

 river during summer three or four feet. At one time, 

 the salmon-fishings of Ness were very productive, so 

 much so, that, forty years ago, they brought a rent of 

 one thousand one hundred pounds per annum; they 

 were lately let for three hundred and seventy pounds, 

 and a further reduction has possibly been made since, 

 as that sum was considered by the tacksman beyond 

 their present value. This decrease in the number of 

 salmon is partly attributed to steam navigation; its 

 occasion has also been traced back to the opening of the 

 Caledonian Canal, down which, instead of the Oich and 

 main river, the fry bred in the Garry, Morrison, and 

 other streams betake themselves, in order to reach the 

 sea, and are either destroyed by pike in the smooth 

 waters, or perish in getting through the locks. 



Loch Ness is twenty-four miles long, and averages 

 a mile and a-half in breadth. Its greatest depth is 

 one hundred and thirty fathoms. The principal feeders 

 of this large expanse of water, are the Oich river from 

 Loch Oich, the Moriston, Enneric and Coiltie waters, 

 the Foyers from Loch Foyers, and Farigag from Loch 

 Ruthven. The three first-mentioned streams are fre- 

 quented by salmon and sea-trout, and all contain abund- 

 ance of common trout. In the hill-lakes, also, from 

 which they take their rise, the angler will find every 

 encouragement to pursue his occupation. They contain, 

 some of them, trout of great size and delicious flavour ; 



