ABERDEENSHIRE. 103 



for trout, the party I was with did little or 

 nothing as a whole day's doings. 



We now approach this place, from which the 

 Earls of the name take their title. Here, of late 

 years, it is not preserved ; but in spring I have 

 killed a good basket, fishing its upper parts. 

 When you have a mild day and a gentle ripple 

 on the different reaches of the river, you cannot 

 doubt to have reward for your labour, if assidu- 

 ously applied. Here we have also a railway 

 station, and formerly there was a capital inn to 

 rest and be thankful in, but it is now given up 

 to that of Inverury. A long reach of uninterest- 

 ing water, excepting some good places near 

 Wester Fintray, until you come below Pitmed- 

 den. Here the Manse Pool for salmon has few 

 equals. It is short but good, narrow but pithy, 

 deep but silent. In the upper part there is pike ; 

 in the middle, often new run salmon ; and at the 

 lower we find foul and unclean fish and kelts. 

 Then comes < Cothal Mills, to which I have 

 alluded before, a spot endeared to me by many 



