88 



THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



by the third week of May the chances are practically past, as by 

 that time the salmon are making their next move, their ascent 

 of the Dochart. As in many other localities mentioned in this 

 volume, the water of the Dochart is, in the early months of the 

 year, not only colder than Loch Tay, but also descends a rocky fall 

 immediately above Killin a very picturesque fall it is and this 

 combination is sufficient to stop all spring fish till such time as 

 the wintry thermal conditions have responded to the rising air 

 temperature. 



The fishing of twenty-five boats for the first month in 1908 yielded 

 2'6 fish per boat per day, 56 salmon having been taken. Since the 

 average weight was about 19 lb., this is no mean result, and is a 

 better total for this first month of the season than was obtained 

 either in 1907 or 1906. 



Through the kindness of Lord Breadalbane, and his factor, Mr. 

 Glen, I am able to give the totals since 1882 to 1907. The figures 

 for 1891 and 1892 may not be absolutely accurate, since complete 

 returns from every hotel were not available ; but Mr. Glen, taking 

 the available totals, has struck an average which no doubt is not far 

 out : 



If, for the convenience of securing quinquennial averages, we miss- 

 out the first year, the averages are, in chronological order : 345, 343, 

 300, 178, and 195. The drop from the third to the fourth average 

 is most marked, and the greatest depth is reached in the year 1900. 

 This was the year the House of Lords decision put an end to drift- 

 net fishing, and to toot and haul fishing in the estuary ; and at the 

 same time the keen competition in net and coble fishing was then 

 largely diminished by the active policy of The Tay Fisheries Company. 

 At the same time 1900 was very cold, and a very low river tern- 



