76 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



their further ascent. In this way both the Tay and Tummel 

 sections of Easthaugh fishing are available for early fishing. By 

 the month of March, however, the Tummel fish, are moving up to 

 the Falls, and in April they usually begin to enter the Garry, 

 although in mild springs fish are up as far as the Pass of Killie- 

 crankie before March is out, or even sometimes by the end of 

 February. 



Early fish moving up to the Falls of Tummel are of course 

 stopped in any further ascent. The weight of water which pours 

 over this barrier is such that no fish will attempt to make the 

 ascent in spring, or when the water is at or above normal level at 

 any season. In the height of summer, however, when the water is 

 low, fish not only attempt but accomplish the ascent. They leap on 

 the Bonskeid side from the deep water below into the foot of 

 the S-shaped rapid already referred to. This necessitates a per- 

 pendicular leap of about seven feet, and is as high a leap as any I 

 know of in Scotland. If accomplished, the fish finds itself in a kind 

 of natural trough where there is below the surface a " water cushion " 

 of easy water in which the fish commonly remains for some time 

 before the next attempt is made. The surprising slackness of the 

 water in this trough can be easily tested by any one who knows the 

 place to test. From this vantage point further ascent is made by a 

 most vigorous swim in zig-zag fashion up the S-shaped rapid, 

 successful fish ultimately passing over the crest of the rapid close 

 to the Bonskeid side. A wrong turn means that the fish is at once 

 swept down to the depths below. Only strong fish can overcome 

 the difficulties, but in favourable seasons a considerable number of 

 fish at times manage to succeed in these attempts. A number fail 

 in the first leap, either through not springing high enough or 

 springing in the wrong direction, and in old days this was taken 

 advantage of for the capture of many a plucky fish. A wide- 

 mouthed basket was hung by a chain from the rock close to where 

 the leap is made, and the unsuccessful fish as often as not fell 

 into the basket, and so suffered the last penalty. The sockets where 

 the attachment of the chain was pinned to the rock are still 

 clearly visible, but the basket, as an illegal trap, has been cleared 

 away many years ago. 



One or two other falls in Scotland were also fished in this 

 curious manner, the acme being reached in the case of a basket 

 hung at the fall of the Arkaig, close to Achnacarry House, where, 

 it is reported, matters were so arranged that the salmon not only 



