86 THE HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



THE TIME OF PLENTY. 

 From Scotus to Bell's Life. 



" Mr. Editor, 



" Before the very interesting discussion in your pages 

 on the salmon question closes, an account of the largest 

 draught of salmon that was ever taken in Great Britain, 

 or probably in the world, may be deemed worthy of 

 insertion. The river Thurso has been for some time the 

 scene of remarkable sport with the rod as detailed in your 

 broad-sheet; but the following extract from the first vo- 

 lume, page 31, of ' The Life of the late Sir John Sinclair, 

 Bart., of Ulbster, in the County of Caithness/ will rather 

 astonish your readers. " In the ' Statistical Account of 

 Scotland,' chap. ii. sect. 1., mention was made of the 

 celebrated draught of salmon in the river Thurso, when 

 no less a number than two thousand five hundred and 

 sixty were caught. With the view of having the fact 

 ascertained, the following certificate was given by three 

 persons who witnessed the transaction, and are of un- 

 questionable veracity. 



fe ( We, George Paterson (now bailie of Thurso, chief 

 magistrate of Thurso, which is a burgh of Barony), George 

 Swanson (shoemaker there), and Donald Finlayson senior 

 (flesher there), do hereby certify and declare, that upon 

 the 22nd day of July, old style, we think in the year 

 1743 or 1744, there were caught at one haul, on the 

 cruives' pool, upon the water above the town of Thurso, 

 2500. These fish were caught by a large net, beginning 

 the sweep at the cruives and coming down the river to a 

 stern at the low end of the pool ; the net was carried 

 down the water by eighteen or twenty men, with long 

 poles in their hands, keeping down the ground rope, and 

 the fish were afterwards taken ashore by degrees in a 

 smaller net. We further certify and declare that we were 

 personally present when these fish were caught. 



(Signed) GEORGE PATERSON. 



GEORGE SWANSON. 



DONALD FINLAYSON.* '*. 



