TAY DISTRICT 59 



recollected in this connection ; but even then, a feature of our present- 

 day fishing is that good years are not so good as of old, and bad 

 years are much worse and more frequent. For the last couple of 

 years, indeed, it might be said that grilse have almost utterly failed 

 in many parts. From this it must not by any means be inferred 

 that the Tay Salmon Fisheries Company is not a prosperous concern. 

 Prices are high. 



In the history of the Tay, litigation has arisen from time to time. 

 The Bermoney Boat Case is historical. The toot and haul fishing 

 and drift net cases went to the House of Lords, and resulted in the 

 decision, given as recently as 1900, that in Scotland those forms of 

 fishing cannot now be practised in any estuary, since they are to be 

 regarded as fixed engine fishing. This decision is largely responsible 

 for freeing the lower reaches of the estuary of nets, and has resulted 

 in the suppression of drift net or hang net fishing in several other 

 estuaries where it could be and was practised. The only district 

 which is not affected by it, so far as the question has yet been 

 tested, is the Solway, the clauses of the Scottish Acts regulating 

 fixed net fishing being there excepted and the English regulations 

 being substituted, with the result that considerable confusion and 

 difficulty follows. Netting by means of sweep or draught net net 

 and coble fishing is practised during the whole season between 

 Perth Bridge and the mouth of the Earn. Above the Bridge of 

 Perth, since 1906, a reduction in the netting has been agreed to by 

 the Tay Fisheries Company. Between the Linn of Campsie, which 

 is the one partial barrier in the whole of the main river (a dyke of 

 dolerite rock through which the current has worn a great gap), and 

 the Bridge of Perth, a distance of about 9 miles, netting is now 

 carried on only till 31st May in each year, and in addition to this a 

 sixty hours weekly close time is allowed. This means much for the 

 passage of fish to the upper waters, although between four and five 

 thousand are probably accounted for before 31st May. 



By agreement of all proprietors of fishings no netting is now 

 carried on above the Linn. 



The names of some of the netting stations above Perth are inter- 

 esting. One, for instance, is called " Kome." A large Koman camp 

 once existed in the haugh land now forming part of the policies of 

 Scone Palace, and the name of the netting station is believed to be 

 derived in consequence. The river Almond enters on the opposite 

 side, and from it the Perth Lade is carried 4 miles to the Fair City. 

 This lade is believed to have been constructed by the Eomans. It 



