104 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



right bank of the river. Two other dykes exist below this point, 

 the first at Kinnaird, the property of the Earl of Southesk, and the 

 other at the East Mill, Brechin. The Kinnaird Dyke is a large 

 structure, but it has a fish pass which is reported to answer its pur- 

 pose well. The East Mill Dyke has also a pass, but is very leaky. 



Above Brechin, about a couple of miles, the Blackie Mill Dyke 

 occurs. This structure had to be rebuilt not long ago, and the fish 

 pass was then conveniently omitted, but the District Board have 

 now got this matter put right ; but the dyke is only 4 to 4J feet 

 high. The river is considerably broken up in different channels, but 

 after these unite a great pool occurs, which has received a good deal of 

 attention by " croy " building on a fine gravelly bottom. The corner 

 of the river next below is a favourite one with the pearl fisher. 

 The other weirs are at Finavon, Murthill, Craigessie, and Cortachy. 

 The second and last named of these are unprovided with fish passes, 

 but the obstructions are not of great moment, and the District Board 

 do not consider passes necessary. 



"With regard to the third factor, that of pollution, there is still 

 considerable difficulty. The impurity comes almost wholly from the 

 town of Brechin and its sewage farm. This farm is about a mile 

 below the town on the left bank and occupies a small haugh at the 

 side of the river. It may at one time have been sufficient to deal 

 with the sewage of Brechin, but for several years it has been quite 

 inadequate ; the land has become sewage-sick, and the effluent to the 

 river which enters a large and rather still pool is most impure. 

 The whole place advertises its position for a considerable radius by 

 the objectionable odour, and no self-respecting fish would remain 

 in the water immediately below. In low- water conditions a horrible 

 scum floats on the surface of the pool referred to, and the side of 

 the river near the outfall is loaded with sewage fungus. Certain 

 proposals for improvement are now under consideration. 



The Kinnaird fishing begins at the foot of this pool in a thickly- 

 wooded stretch of water, represented in the photograph. No doubt 

 the success of the lower water angling depends much on the con- 

 dition of water-flow. The whole river indeed, owing to the rather 

 easy gradient, and the weirs, is much benefited by a rainy season, 

 and the pollutions are at the same time minimised in their injurious 

 effects. In 1907, for instance, 200 spring fish were taken on 

 Kinnaird Water alone. In 1908 I believe the tenant could not 

 score up many more than would be represented by the two first 

 figures alone. This is a rather violent fluctuation ; but some good 



