THE NORTH ESK 99 



attempt was made by Lord Dalhousie, who owns all the head waters 

 of the river, to modify this netting by taking a five-years' lease of 

 the nets down to a certain point. It is to be feared, however, that 

 since boats' crews were hard at work below, were perhaps much 

 harder at work than formerly on account of the competition, the 

 success of the endeavour has been very partial. The upper pro- 

 prietors would fain have all river nets removed and the obstructions 

 opened up, but it would appear from a well-organised effort lately 

 made, that to carry through a project of this kind in the North Esk 

 district is not an easy matter. 



The first obstacle in the ascent of the river is Morphie Dam Dyke, 

 by means of which, through the Kinnaber Lade, water is carried to 

 Montrose. One hears a great deal in the district about the 

 objectionable character of Craigo Dyke. The evidence of the upper 

 proprietors before Lord Elgin's Commission was almost entirely 

 directed to the need for the opening up of Craigo ; it is the bdte 

 noir of the upper heritors. A pass at Craigo which will be of real 

 service is badly needed, but it is perhaps almost as important that a 

 better pass be also erected at Morphie. When all the netting below 

 Craigo was in one hand, fish might or might not be netted at 

 Morphie. If fish ran the Morphie Dyke they could be got below the 

 Craigo Dyke. When, however, one party fishes from Craigo down to 

 just above Morphie and another party fishes from Morphie to the sea, 

 as is the case at present, the effect of Morphie Dyke as a check to 

 the ascent of fish is such that by steady fishing in the lower section 

 a proportion of each run of fish is not allowed to pass. It is 

 significant that the Morphie netting is rented at 1010 a year, and 

 Craigo at 400. The number of spring fish netted at the opening 

 of the season at Morphie Dyke is sometimes enormous. A good fish 

 pass at Craigo would not help this one whit. The pass at Morphie 

 Dyke has been described as probably affording as easy an ascent as 

 is possible in a pass of the kind, but the pass is of a poor kind. 

 Moreover, it would be very easy to construct a pass of a much 

 better kind. I do not mean to argue for a moment that the 

 commercial fishings should be sacrificed for the sake of sport, but in 

 the North Esk the commercial fishings keep the stock of breeding 

 fish low and to this extent are injurious to the best interests of the 

 river. It happens incidentally that if more fish are allowed up to 

 breed, the rods above will have the first benefit. The North Esk 

 should really be a splendid spring fishing river. 



An arrangement has recently been come to by which Middle 



