170 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



of the River Oich, a sounding of 204 feet was taken about 100 feet 

 from shore ; but the steepest slopes were observed off the north- 

 eastern shore in the vicinity of the Horse Shoe craig, where a 

 sounding in 236 feet was taken about 100 feet from shore ; another 

 in 175 feet about 50 feet from shore ; and off what is known as 

 the Cormorant rock, a sounding in 206 feet was taken about 50 

 feet from shore. This last-mentioned sounding gives a gradient 

 exceeding 4 in 1, or an angle of about 15 from the perpendicular." 



The fame of Loch Ness as a spring salmon loch has arisen largely 

 since the formation of the Loch Ness Angling Improvement Associa- 

 tion in the end of the year 1903. This association is composed of 

 proprietors of salmon fishing rights in the loch, and was formed in 

 order to regulate the existing fishing and improve the prospects for 

 the future. 



The rules of the association with regard to salmon and sea-trout 

 fishing are as follow : 



1. Parties may obtain the right of angling for salmon and sea- 

 trout on payment of the following : 



(a) For whole season, 5 for each boat ; 



(b) For period from 1st May to 15th October, 2 10s. for 



each boat. 



2. All subscriptions must be paid in advance to the secretary, 

 who will issue distinctive badges for each boat. Each badge will 

 be marked with the registered number of the boat, and subscribers 

 are strictly prohibited from angling from any boat without its 

 proper badge. Any person angling from a boat not marked with a 

 badge will be liable to prosecution. 



3. A subscriber's right will be strictly limited to himself, the 

 members of his family, and visitors residing with him. 



4. Only hotelkeepers, the members of their families, and the 

 hotel visitors, shall be allowed to fish in the authorised hotel boats. 

 Boatmen and other servants are strictly prohibited from fishing. 



5. No kelts may be gaffed, and a net for landing kelts must be 

 carried in every boat until 1st May. 



Mr. Hugh M. Graham, solicitor, 51 Church Street, Inverness, is 

 the secretary of the Association, and issues the badges to those who 

 desire to acquire licensed boats, as well as tickets to those who wish 

 to fish for trout either from a boat or from the shore. A separate 

 code of regulations are drawn up for trout fishing on very generous 



