THE TAY 



69 



wisely, his flies and his minnows are allowed to pass through pool 

 after pool, or are merely played with, nipped at, or what is worse, 

 carried down and fastened on to the bottom after deferred hopes 

 have been at last raised by a brief run. 



At Murthly the usual method of fishing employed is casting from 

 a boat, but some of the pools may be fished from the bank or by 

 wading. 



With regard to the catch on Delvine and Glendelvine waters I 

 am indebted to Mr. Lyle for permission to give the following record 

 of recent years, separating spring from autumn fish : 



Year. 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 



Spring. Autumn. 

 34 36 



30 43 



81 19 



Total. 

 70 

 73 



100 



Year. Spring. Autumn. Total. 



1907 72 33 105 



1908 - 101 44 ]45 



This shows the recent increase in spring fishing, which is remarked 

 in most of the lower Tay fishings. 



In the whole Tay district there are ninety-five separate fishings 

 assessed each year, some of which, however, are net fisheries pure and 

 simple. There is a marked contrast in the Tay district as compared 

 with the Tweed as to the amount of money necessary for carrying 

 on the business of protection and regulation. The Tay, with its 

 rental of over 23,000, has a rate of 6 per cent., yielding 1392. 

 The Tweed, with its rental of 15,732, has an assessment of 20 per 

 cent., yielding 3146. This signifies inter alia the difficulties to be 

 encountered in one district as compared with another. 



Above the Bridge of Perth, exclusive of tributaries, there are 

 thirty proprietors who hold rights of salmon fisheries qualifying for 

 assessment. For an understanding of the relative positions of the 

 various fishings reference must be made to the accompanying sketch- 

 maps of the river. 



I have been favoured with a record for the last nine years as to 

 the Dalguise fishing, which extends to about Ij miles. The Duke 

 of Atholl has the left bank, and in accordance with the usual 

 custom, both banks are fished on alternate days by one estate. The 

 Duke's section is generally let with Dunkeld. Mr. Evan MacGregor 

 kindly informs me that the Dalguise estate takes were : 



Year. 

 1900 

 1901 

 1902 

 1903 

 1904 



Spring. Autumn. Total. 



8 



16 

 11 

 19 

 30 



12 

 20 

 13 

 21 

 35 



Year. Spring. Autumn. Total. 



1905 31 2 33 



1906 - 60 60 



1907 - 36 39 



1908 - 51 2 53 



