6 THE NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS 



for the bounds of Sutherland and all the rivers 

 therein. The said Earl of Sutherland, George Ross, 

 of Balnagower, and Eobert Munro, of Fowles, con- 

 junctly and severally, for the water of the Killosochell 

 (that part is now known as the Kyle of Oykel, and 

 contains the water from Castle-na-Care, in Strath- 

 Oykel, down to the bar at the Gizzen Briggsbelow, 

 the royal burgh of Tain). The said Robert Munro, 

 of Fowles, baillie ant} chamberlain of Ross, for the 

 water of Conan ; James, Earl of Arran, and his 

 deputies, for the water of Ferrar ; the sheriff of 

 Inverness and his deputies, and the provist and 

 baillies of Inverness, for the water of Ness; the 

 sheriff of Nairn and his deputies, and the provist 

 and baillies of Nairn, for the water of Nairn; the 

 sheriff of Elgin and Forress, and his deputies, and 

 the baillies of the earldom of Murray and of the 

 Abey of Kinloss and Priory of Plusseardine, and 

 the provist and baillies of Elgin and Foress, for 

 the waters of Spey, Findhorn, and Lossey ; the 

 sheriff of Banff and his deputies, and the provist 

 and baillies of the Burgh of BanfJJ for the water of 

 Devern ; the Laird of Essilmount, for the water of 

 Ythane ; the Earl of Marchell, for the water Ugg ; 

 the sheriff of Aberdeen and his deputies, and the 

 provist and baillies of Aberdeen, for the waters 



prohibition is not to the extent that it would be, if neighbouring 

 proprietors of fishings would follow his example ; for many of 

 the fish bred and reared on the Sutherland rivers are captured 

 by others on the way to and from the sea, whereby the real 

 profit to be derived from a just, faithful, and expensive conserva- 

 tion is greatly diminished. However, his Grace has the satis- 

 faction to know, that throughout the extensive county of 

 Sutherland, there is not one fishless river, nor one river but what 

 is worth less or more rent ; whereas more than half the other 

 rivers mentioned in the Act of 1583, are fishless, and the re- 

 mainder of them almost worthless. 



