52 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



it is hoped much good may arise. At the same time the Forth 

 District Fishery Board have powers to require that the owners of 

 the various obstructions comply with the requirements of the Salmon 

 Fishery Acts. 



On ascending the river, the first weir is that of Keirfield at 

 Bridge of Allan. The lade and mill are on the right bank. A short 

 distance above is the Bridge of Allan meal mill dam, a low structure 

 and not very serious in itself, but unprovided with any gap, and so 

 arranged as to lade that the water carried off is not returned to the 

 river above the Keirfield dam met below, but runs into the lade of 

 the Keirfield mill. The next dam dyke is one of the most serious 

 in the river, viz. the Airthrie Dyke, which supplies a paper mill. 

 The weir is 167 feet long and 9 ft. 6 ins. high. The down- 

 stream face has a gradient of 1 in 5. A pass has been planned for 

 this weir so as to take advantage of some rock ledges which project 

 into the river from the right bank. 



At Kippenross a cruive used to exist, and although this has long 

 been cleared away the rocks still check fish, and are reported to 

 afford a point of vantage for fish-snatchers. Above this is the Lower 

 Keir Mill, which has an exemplary form of dyke running off to a 

 vanishing point. Then comes the Upper Keir Mill, with its dyke 

 below the railway viaduct, where a gap is needed. The Dunblane 

 Dam Dyke next above is another bad barrier unprovided with either 

 gap, fish pass, or hecks, and where, moreover, much water is wasted 

 which might, with advantage to the salmon and little inconvenience 

 to any one, be sent over the dyke. A short distance above this is a 

 curious feature. A dyke exists intended for some sort of mill which 

 never was built. It is not a very serious dyke, but is a quite need- 

 less obstruction, rather typical of the kind of treatment Allan Water 

 has been subjected to. Springbank Wool Mill Dyke, Ashfield Dyke, 

 and Kinbuck Dyke are the remaining obstacles to the ascent of fish, 

 and as Kinbuck is only six miles from the mouth of the river, 

 it will be seen that the spawning fish which attempt to ascend the 

 Allan have a pretty series of obstacles to contend with before they 

 have gone very far. Gravid fish have but a poor chance of getting 

 beyond the Airthrie Dyke as it at present exists. We may hope, 

 however, that better days are in store for Allan Water. 



