THE ORRIN. CRUIVE FISHINGS. 393 



The Orrin discharges itself into the main river on its 

 south side, about three miles below Contin. Salmon 

 ascend it, but not, during the open season, in great 

 numbers. At a fall, three or four miles from its mouth, 

 the same method of catching them is practised which 

 I have described as taking place on the Dochart, near 

 Killin. 



As it is only within these few years, that the stake- 

 nets at the mouth of Conan were abolished, it is difficult 

 to say what effect their removal will ultimately have on 

 the river fishings. The cruive-dykes, so general on our 

 northern salmon streams, are still serious impediments 

 to ascending fish, even during close time, and when the 

 slap-gate is thrown open. They are now so constructed 

 that their intention is evidently, not to entrap, but to 

 detain or keep down the salmon, so that they cannot 

 get beyond them, and may be captured with the drag- 

 net out of the pool or pools below. The cruive itself 

 is in many cases a mere farce, and so encompassed with 

 bug-bears, that it is a matter of little importance 

 whether the slap- gate remains open or shut, as no 

 salmon are permitted to approach it. This surely was 

 not the original intention of those charters, upon which 

 a right of erecting cruive-dykes from bank to bank, for 

 the purpose of taking salmon is founded, and I question 

 much, if any law-court, made acquainted with the 

 practices by which the owners and tacksmen of the 

 lower fishings on many of our salmon streams, contrive 

 to damage the property of those immediately above 

 them, would so construe the grants in question, as to 

 sanction the continuance of a system manifestly unjust. 

 These remarks are not intended particularly to apply to 

 Conan, where I believe a fairer passage, as far as the 

 nature of the barrier can afford it, is given to the fish, 



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