THE DEE 107 



trout came to be there, and how they survive there, is not easy to 

 understand, for frequently the stream below disappears amongst the 

 chaos of great rocks which strew the so-called path to Braemar ; but 

 I have seen and have " gurnped " them there. From these 



" Grizzly cliffs that guard 

 The infant rills of Highland Dee " 



the river has a course of 87 miles to the sea at Aberdeen. 



As it emerges from the Larig it is a mere mountain torrent; but 

 presently it is joined at right angles by the Geldie from the south- 

 west, and the united waters start off eastwards down a magnificent 

 Highland glen of wild slopes and ragged Scotch fir to the Linn of 

 Dee, 6 j miles above Braemar. This water belongs to the Duke of 

 Fife. There is no great fall at the Linn and there is no other 

 fall from here to the sea but just at the bridge, opened by Queen 

 Victoria in 1857, the channel of the river becomes suddenly con- 

 tracted by great masses of rock, through which the concentrated 

 water rushes in a channel only about four feet wide. The pool below 

 is deep and black, and much overhung by the rocks, and in this at 

 times great numbers of fish congregate. A considerable extent of 

 the Mar fishing is rented for the early part of the season which 

 usually means, I believe, to the end of July by the Fife Arms 

 Hotel at Braemar, and is commonly sublet according to arrange- 

 ment. Mr. MacDonald, of the hotel, usually divides the water at 

 his disposal about seven miles into three beats, which are fished 

 by rotation. The best time is usually from about the middle of 

 April to the end of June, but much depends on water-flow and tem- 

 perature, a mild winter bringing fish up earlier, while a dry, hot 

 June reduces the river rather fast. When the Duke's party come 

 to New Mar Lodge the fishing is taken over, with the exception of 

 about two miles, which Mr. MacDonald holds throughout the season. 

 The Mar water yields on an average about 200 salmon and grilse, 

 though in seasons when fish are to be got in March, this number 

 may be considerably increased. With the exception of the Linn 

 Pool, the water is ideal for fly, although all sorts of baits are used, 

 and the variety of the casts, apart from the magnificent surround- 

 ings and exhilarating air, is such as to yield most interesting 

 angling. 



The earliest fish of the Dee, owing to the complete absence of 

 barriers, are able to ascend to the upper waters if the season is not 

 severe and the river very cold. In the late eighties and early 



