THE TUMMEL 77 



fell into the basket, but in doing so rang a bell in the kitchen to 

 announce its arrival, and, as it were, advise the cook to put the 

 water on to boil. 



When the water is at all heavy at the Falls of Turnmel fish can- 

 not get to the foot of the fall, and if they could, they would be quite 

 unable to make the ascent. They commonly lie back a little where 

 the water is not too highly aerated, in one or other of two little 

 rocky bays on either side of the lower division of the " Pot." The 

 proposal to erect a salmon pass at this fall must therefore take 

 advantage of this fact, and, if it is to be at all successful, have its 

 mouth close to the lie of the fish, for the best salmon pass in the 

 world is useless if the salmon don't find their way into it. 



I may add that the plans for this pass are drawn and accepted, 

 that an engineer has made a careful survey of the ground, and 

 that before this writing is published the actual formation of the 

 pass on the Bonskeid side will either be well in hand or already 

 an accomplished fact. Proposals for the erection of a pass at this 

 fall have been made intermittently for the last forty years, so that 

 the consummation of the undertaking, owing to the agreement 

 between Mr. Barbour of Bonskeid and the Duke of Atholl in the 

 matter of title to fishings, and the action of the Tay District 

 Fishery Board in providing the pass, is now matter of general 

 satisfaction. 



In the general description of the river I have referred to the 

 two other obstructions of Dalcroy Dam and Dunalastair Fall. A 

 very considerable extent of water exists between the Falls of 

 Tummel and Dalcroy, which, if the falls are opened successfully, will 

 be regularly peopled by salmon ; but to complete the benefit to the 

 district at large in the distribution of spawning fish, the modification 

 of those two barriers is also advisable. 



Dalcroy Dam Dyke is by no means a difficulty. At present it is 

 only a partial or temporary barrier. Without much loss it could 

 be entirely removed, or, if this were considered undesirable, might 

 be rendered watertight and a proper gap in the down-stream face 

 provided ; the dyke is about 6 feet high. The mill at present is 

 very seldom used and is of no very great value. In any case, with 

 the presence of salmon recognised in the water, it will become a 

 statutory duty to provide for the ascent of the fish. Fish at present 

 reach here in June. 



Dunalastair Fall is a much more serious affair, for the difficulty 

 to ascending fish is not much less than that at the Falls of Tummel 



