LOCH NESS. 381 



others are stored with pike, and one or two yield the 

 torgoch or mountain charr. In Loch Ness itself, there 

 are salmon fisheries, but these are not remarkable for 

 their productiveness.* Both salmon and sea-trout are to 

 be captured with the rod from the side. They frequent 

 certain bays and localities, not far from the margin, and 

 will rise, the one at large flies, such as are used on 

 Tweed and Tay, and the other at the hooks commonly 



* I am indebted to my friend, R. Carruthers, Esq., of Inverness, and 

 Mr. Alexander Tait, tacksman of salmon-fishings on the river Ness, for 

 the following communication, drawn out by the latter gentleman, respect- 

 ing the rivers and lakes in the neighbourhood of Inverness : 



" The salmon-fishings in the Ness are at present held by three tacks- 

 men. For some years past the rent paid has been very trifling. At 

 one time the lower fishings alone were let for 1,100. The average 

 weight of the spring salmon in this river is nine pounds. It is the 

 general opinion, that, were the Ness permitted to be fished in the months 

 of December and January, as it formerly was before the passing of 

 Home Drummond's absurd Act, salmon would be caught there running 

 from twenty to thirty -five pounds. The largest salmon that I ever saw 

 caught by the net weighed forty-two pounds. One of my men told me 

 that he once assisted in capturing with the net in the Ness a trout which 

 weighed fifty-four pounds and a-half Dutch weight. This took place in 

 1820. The largest salmon caught in the Ness or Loch Ness, that I 

 ever heard of, weighed forty-seven pounds Dutch weight. Previous to 

 the passing of the Act of 1 828, the Ness opened in the beginning of 

 December, from which time until the latter end of January there were 

 more salmon killed than there now are throughout the whole of the 

 open season. The twenty days' extension allowed by the present Act to 

 net-fishing both in sea and river, has proved very injurious to the 

 breeding stock. 



" Gaudy flies I find at all seasons preferred by salmon on the Ness ; 

 but they are captured also with the soberer kinds, winged with orange- 

 brown, mottled turkey, peacock, gledd and mallard feathers. For trout, 

 the mallard wing, with black, orange, deep crimson and brown mohair 

 for body, black or red hackle and silver tinsel ; also lark, landrail or 

 starling wing, and hare's ear body suit admirably. The salmon-flies 

 used in the Beauley are generally winged with turkey and mallard 

 feathers. In the event of snow-water being in the river, a favourite 



