TAY DISTRICT 55 



only adds a refinement and beauty to the robust strength of the 

 great hills. Away in the heathery stretches of Eannoch Moor 

 again, one does not look upon trees and narrow gorges, but upon 

 great expanses of wind-swept heather, backed by distant peaks of 

 serried outline and the free lift of heaven. 



As pointed out by Mr. Macnair in the recent work already 

 referred to, the Tay twice changes its direction and describes a 

 rough parabolic curve through the centre of Perthshire. From 

 Loch Tay it flows north-east to the junction with the Tummel at 

 Ballinluig. Here it turns almost at right angles, and flows in a 

 direction mainly south-easterly across the wide valley of Strath- 

 more until it reaches Perth, when it again turns sharp off to the 

 east. 



The lengths of the main divisions of the river system are given 

 by Mr. Macnair as follows : 



Source to Loch Tay ...... 25 miles. 



Killin to Kenmore - - - - -- 14i 



Kenmore to junction with Tummel - - - 15$ 



Junction with Tummel to Perth Bridge - 31 



Perth to Sea - - - - - - - 31 



117 miles. 



The last measurement comprises the estuary, being what is 

 usually called the Firth of Tay. The limits of the estuary are not 

 scheduled in the 1868 Salmon Fishery Act, because early in last 

 century the matter had been decided by the Court of Session. The 

 finding of the Court is not readily accessible, and for this reason 

 the actual limits are known to very few. The matter was appealed 

 to the House of Lords, but sent back to the Scottish Courts for 

 decision. The case was John, Duke of Athole and others v. the Hon. 

 William Maule of Panmure. The interlocutor was finally issued 

 on 8th July, 1817. It is somewhat lengthy, and deals with the 

 removal of " yairs, stake nets, and other machinery," but the 

 passage dealing with the line of the estuary runs as follows : " The 

 Lords . . . find that the eastern end of the Drumley or Draumlaw 

 Sands is the eastern end of the sand bank denominated Abertay 

 on some of the charts referred to, lying on the southern side of the 

 Eiver or Firth of Tay, and as delineated and marked ' Abertay ' on 

 the plan in process made by John Bell, and referred to and signed 

 by Mr. James Jardine, civil engineer, as relative to his report ; 

 remit to the said James Jardine to draw a straight line south and 

 north from the said eastern end of the Drumlaw or Drumley 



