THE DON 125 



built into the river bank immediately below the bridge. Both intakes 

 are protected by a substantial pile railing a few yards out in the 

 river and parallel with the bank. The distance to the lower of the 

 two works is quite half a mile from the intake, the water is clear 

 and contains a lot of trout. The gradient of the lade is evidently 

 so arranged as to secure a good flow of water. One cannot see this 

 arrangement without wishing that in other places where water power 

 is desired, a similar absence of all obstruction in the river could have 

 been secured. 



Net and coble fishing is practised in the lower Don for about 

 4 J miles, but the hauling grounds are only seven or eight in number, 

 distributed amongst six proprietors, at Nether Don, the Cruives, 

 Grandholm, Persley, Mugiemoss, and Waterton, but the last-named 

 fishing is not now worked. The Grandholm and Mugiemoss 

 fishings are considered as of highest value, The Nether Don fishings 

 at the mouth are in value not much below them. A monthly 

 return of salmon, grilse, and trout for the years 1894 to 1900 was 

 handed into the Elgin Commission by Mr. Davidson, the chief 

 holder, with the Shipmasters' Society. This return shows that the 

 most productive month for salmon is August, and the best grilse 

 month is July. The combined totals of salmon and grilse for the 

 years named are : 



1894 - - 8,194 



1895 - - 17,259 



1896 - - 10,764 



1897 - - 7,062 



1898 - - 5,793 



1899 - - 13,455 



1900 - - 9,861 



The highest totals are all the result of good grilse years. In 1895 

 and 1899 over 5000 grilse were taken in July alone. 



Of late years the fishings are reported as having fallen off con- 

 siderably, and I believe the rod-fishing has suffered most. Don fish 

 are of a fine class, and quite a number of heavy fellows enter the 

 river at the end of the season. In a recent paragraph in The Field 

 I noticed an account of how an angler at Grandholm landed a 

 41 J Ibs. fish, and, leaving it on the bank, hastened a little lower 

 down to a fellow-angler and gaffed a 43-pounder for him. I 

 wondered as I read of his leaving his fish on the bank, if the 

 sequel was not going to be that he could not find it on his return. 

 Some people hang about Grandholm at the back-end who are not to 

 be trusted when one's back is turned. I have known them scheme 

 to draw off the patient river watchers by showing lights in a 

 suspicious manner, in order to allow time for a comrade to do some 



