THE DEE 113 



A little judicious croy-building, with consent of the opposite pro- 

 prietor, might be found to make a wonderful difference in securing 

 lies for fish, so that the angler has a longer opportunity of trying for 

 them in the bye-going. 



Sir Thomas Burnett rents Kinneskie, Cairnton, and Woodend 

 Waters. The first has been held for the two last seasons by the 

 Tornacoile Hotel, the manager of which informs me that the average 

 for the two seasons is 60 fish. There are five pools in this water. 

 Captain Quintin Dick, who has rented the Woodend Water since 

 1904, and has regularly fished it, has kindly given me a statement of 

 his catches. He informs me that low water suits Woodend best, 

 and that Commonty, which is opposite, and which he also rents, 

 fishes best when the water is high. 



Year. 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 

 1907 

 1908 



Writing on 27th March, Captain Dick also states that during the 

 present season, 1909, to date, 87 fish have been taken. 



Lord Penrhyn, who has rented the Cairnton water for a consider- 

 able time, also gets corresponding results. 



I understand that Feughside Hotel frequently arranges for the 

 right of fishing on the upper Blackball Water. Two or three rods 

 can be put on this section, although I believe four rods are on 

 occasion allowed to fish it. The chances are that the overcrowding 

 of four fishers is not conducive to either successful angling or 

 comfort to the anglers. I have also heard it said that one of the 

 results is to induce overwading in order to reach water near the 

 opposite bank, thereby spoiling the lies on the near bank. I have 

 no personal knowledge of the matter, but one knows the ardent 

 nature of the keen angler, and how at times a taint of selfishness 

 enters into the actions of the best of us. 



Opposite lower Crathes, the Durris Water comes in. It is divided 

 into upper and lower beats and continues down-stream for about 

 6 miles, the lower section being opposite Park (vide Map). There 

 are some splendid pools in this section, which as early as December 

 have already got their complement of early clean fish. I netted the 

 whole river from Banchory to Cults one December in order to mark 

 and return fish. I have a recollection of seeing a fine lot of clean 

 fish streaming out below the net in Floating Bank Pool. They went 



