126 



THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



rapid snatching at Mugiemoss. The local poacher is both expert and 

 bold, and moreover is apt to take unto himself seven others, etc. 

 With the large population of mill-workers which exist in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood, the nightly duty of the bailiffs is arduous at 

 the back-end of the year. It takes men of hard mettle to carry out 

 the work really well. 



With regard to the rod results I am greatly obliged to Lord 

 Sempill, who has kindly given me averages in periods of ten years 

 since 1868 for his Fintray water, which are sufficiently startling to 

 require little or no comment. 



1868 to 1877 - 378 salmon 

 1878 to 1887 - 254 



1888 to 1897 - 

 1898 to 1907 - 



127 salmon 

 87 



It may be seen from this that in the last forty years the decline 

 amounts to practically 80 per cent. 



The conditions with which Donside proprietors have to contend 

 are undoubtedly both serious and obstinate. A good deal of activity 

 has. however, been recently displayed, and it is devoutly to be hoped 

 that the salmon fishing interests of so fine a river will shortly be 

 more adequately safeguarded than they have been in the past. 



