426 THE RIVERS OF THE SOL WAY FIRTH. 



with the angler, but the trout found there do not excel 

 in size. There are a few chub, called skellies, in the 

 Esk ; the river trout obtain the name of eldrins, and the 

 herlings, during close-time, are termed bills. Lord 

 Minto's Act may possibly, if carried into effect, benefit 

 this river, which was much poached, both with the pout- 

 net, when flooded, and with the small mesh hand-nets, 

 employing two or three individuals, when in a low state. 

 One of the most enthusiastic and able anglers in Esk- 

 dale is George Graham Bell, Esq., advocate, under whose 

 skilful control many a salmon has been forced to bite the 

 sod. The course of the Esk, from its sources in Eskdale 

 Moor to the Solway Firth, extends thirty-eight miles. 



The DEE, or DEVA of the Romans, rises from Loch 

 Dee, in the parish of Minnigaff, in Kircudbright, and 

 after running a course of twenty-two miles, joins the 

 Ken, a larger stream than itself. The name of Dee, 

 however, is still retained, and the combined waters pro- 

 ceed in the same channel, passing through the lower 

 part of Loch Ken, to the Solway Firth, a further course 

 of nearly twenty miles. The Dee contains salmon, sea- 

 trout, river-trout, pike, and perch. Its salmon fishings 

 belong to Mr. Murray of Broughton, and are considered 

 valuable, the rental not long ago exceeding seven hundred 

 pounds. The cruive, or what is locally termed the doach 

 system of capturing salmon, is there pursued, much, of 

 course, to the detriment of the upper holders of fishings. 

 In some parts of the river, salmon are taken in great 

 numbers by what is termed the shoulder-net, a contriv- 

 ance similar to the pout-net of Tweed, only on a larger 

 scale. A few years ago thirty-five salmon were brought 

 out at a single draught by this means, and in July, 1836, 

 according to a statement made by the Rev. Mr. William- 

 son, in the New Statistical Account, the same individual 



