THE SPEY. 115 



Grant, water-baliff, Grantown, found at Spey- 

 side, near Skerryvore Pool, in Cromdale, a large 

 male salmon. It was quite entire when found, 

 with the exception of the right pectoral fin, which 

 was scooped out by the root, the work evidently 

 of an otter, from which we may fairly infer that 

 this is the daintiest bit, in his estimation, while 

 the smallness of the morsel indicates that the 

 quality of the fish did not please ; the under fins 

 and tail were chafed and ragged, and the hook 

 of the under jaw was very prominent. The fish 

 was found on the claddach, two or three feet out 

 of the water ; it contained a few ounces of milt, 

 and weighed 30 Ibs. ; its length was 4 feet 3 

 inches, girth at the thickest part 23 inches. 

 These figures suggest what the monarch must 

 have been some months ago, when, after the days 

 of his purification were ended, he came up from 

 the sea ' mighty as a giant refreshed with wine.' 

 Our correspondent waxes warm with the idea : 

 ' What mad glee,' he says, ' must the restless 

 creature have felt after his last annual refresh- 

 ing baptism in the salt brine ; and, as he 

 felt home sickness coming on, have turned his 

 tail to old Ocean, cleared the bar at Garmouth, 

 and bravely cleaved the flood onwards, till he 



