146 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



of years the returns from not a few sections of this fine water have 

 not been satisfactory. There is probably more than one cause, but 

 I will endeavour to deal with causes a little later. 



At Ballindalloch the largest tributary of the Spey enters. This 

 river, the Avon, commonly pronounced Aan, has a course of some 

 forty-five miles from little Loch Avon, at the back of Cairngorm, to 

 Ballindalloch. Its direction is very largely parallel to the main 

 river, flowing as it does close to Tomintoul reputed to be the 

 highest village but one in Scotland and along the east side of 

 the hills of Cromdale. The water of this stream, coming as it does 

 from clean rocky country, is quite remarkably pure, so much so, 

 that one is warned to be extremely careful in wading, since depths are 

 very deceptive. It contains some fine trout, and, as the season 

 advances, a fair number of salmon may be got on suitable days. 

 About five miles from the mouth the Livet joins the Avon. The 

 purity of Glen Livet water, of the strong variety, is well known 

 amongst thirsty Britishers in many parts of the world. 



The only other important tributary is the Fiddick. It is not a 

 large stream ; but in spite of certain dangers to fish from the 

 distilleries of Dufftown and the neighbourhood, as well as from 

 domestic sewage, it is an extremely valuable tributary to the Spey. 

 Late running fish at times enter it in very great numbers at the 

 back-end of the year. It is the first tributary which such fish 

 encounter on this ascent of the main river, although it is about 

 sixteen miles from Spey mouth. The descriptions which have 

 occasionally been given of the show of fish in the Fiddick reminds 

 one of accounts from the Fraser River in British Columbia where 

 they still " eat what they can, and can what they can't." I have 

 not myself seen the water stiff with fish either in the Fraser River 

 or the Fiddick, although I have looked in the latter at spawning 

 time. I once asked a most reliable and venerable friend who had 

 just visited the Pacific coast, if the account one heard of the 

 number of salmon in the Fraser River could be true. " I don't 

 know what you've heard," he replied, " but it's true." 



Of the fishings mentioned between Castle Grant and the mouth 

 of the river and extending over about forty miles of water there are 

 only six proprietors. The Seafield estates have the longest mileage, 

 viz. 15 miles of both banks, besides 7 more on the left bank and 2 

 on the right ; in other words, 39 miles of river bank counting on 

 each side. This includes the private water of Castle Grant, Revack, 

 Tulchan, Easter Elchies, Rothes and Delfur. The estate of Ballin- 



