THE DEVERON 139 



who tried patiently, and, it is to be feared, with rather small success, 

 for clean spring fish. Fifty kelts were marked at Kothiemay, and 

 others were marked at Ardmiddle, Ardmeallie, and Upper Forglen. 

 Yet these very waters, along with others, should before long yield 

 excellent spring results. 



The spring fish of the Deveron is of the small variety, 8-10 lb., 

 with very possibly an occasional example of the larger class. The 

 autumn fish, on the other hand, runs fairly large, not uncommonly 

 up to 20 and 25 lb. The other year a 31 lb. fish was taken, and 

 the record is, I believe, 44 lb. 



At Huntly the Town Council appoint annually a committee who 

 regulate fishings in the neighbourhood which are leased from the 

 Duke of Kichmond and Gordon. These fishings extend to 17 miles, 

 or thereby, not only in the Deveron proper, but in the tributaries of 

 the Bogie, Isla, Ness Bogie, and Kirkney. Visitors to Huntly may 

 receive a ticket enabling them to fish on the waters referred to, the 

 bounds of the various waters being set forth on the ticket itself. 

 Mr. J. K. M'Math, solicitor, Huntly, acts as secretary. The water 

 holds some famous trout which, in the lower sections, come into 

 very fair condition as early as the middle of April. Above 

 Baldorney, June and July are perhaps best. There are probably 

 no waters open to the public in Scotland which offer finer trouting 

 than these, and the chance of a salmon is considerable and the 

 available pools most inviting. Of late years the river above Huntly 

 has yielded more salmon to the rod than the lower water. In course 

 of time we may expect that the upper Deveron will fish like the 

 upper Dee. Persons resident upon the Duke's property at Huntly 

 have a preference in the matter of charge, but a stranger has only 

 to pay 15s. a month, or 2 2s. for the season. He may also fish 

 for a day or a week at lesser charges. Salmon fishing permits are 

 issued from 1st March, trout permits from 1st April. Fishing at 

 night is not allowed in September and October, and in fishing for 

 salmon during the month of March fly only is allowed, and the gaff 

 may not be used in landing fish. Other regulations are those which 

 every right-minded sportsman will be glad to agree to, and concern 

 legal fishing and the preservation of property. It may be noted that 

 the proprietor reserves power to interdict any person whether possessed 

 of a ticket or not, but any one knowing the Duke of Kichmond and 

 Gordon knows that this is merely a precautionary measure. 



The Deveron is fortunate in this, that it is not obstructed by 

 weirs or by natural falls. There is only one weir on the main 



