192 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



From The Field report as to 1908, the lodges further up the river 

 seem to have secured 314 salmon and grilse and 76 sea- trout, 

 making a total for the season of 1887. This is not far short of 

 double the number usually estimated. Now 1908 was a notoriously 

 bad year in almost all other districts in Scotland. The inference is 

 that the reduction of nets is now beginning to tell by the improve- 

 ment of the natural stock of fish in the district. The dictum 

 which rny old friend Dr. Almond, of Loretto, use to lay down is 

 generally correct : " If you want to catch more fish you must fish 

 less." The heaviest salmon of 1908 was a fish of 19 lb., caught by 

 Hon. Elspeth Campbell; the heaviest sea-trout, a fish of 5 lb., 

 caught by Mr. C. W. Ogden. 



The nets in the lower water in the old days used to make great 

 scores, and the natural productiveness of the river must be very 

 great. A return was supplied to Lord Elgin's Commission by Mr. 

 Garrioch, Lord Lovat's factor, from which I have drawn the follow- 

 ing sexennial periods, putting salmon and grilse together : 



1827-1832 (inclusive) ' - - - 9831 



1833-1838 - * - 11374 



1875-1880 .... - 5071 



1881-1886 .... 5972 



1887-1892 - - . . 3654 



After 1862 daily netting ceased. 



In connection with the capture of great numbers, it is interesting 

 to notice what Eichard Franck, writing in 1658, has to say of the 

 Beauly. 1 He describes it as " replenished with salmon ; whose 

 numbers are numberless, if not improper to say so ; and careless of 

 their lives, they cast them away. 



" I must confess, the strength of such strange reports, oftentimes 

 meets with a foreign faith, that raises more scruples than arguments 

 can answer. And so it hapned to me at first, till convinced by some 

 persons of considerable reputation, that when fishermen with their 

 sanes have drawn these streams, they have counted many times five 

 hundred at a draught ; the truth of which relation, should any man 

 doubt of, they are ready to assert and vindicate the truth on't by 

 pregnant demonstration. However it shaked my credulity at first, 

 though possibly it may remove the jealousy of another, if when 

 provided with patience he can suspend his suspicion till better 

 inform'd, or confirm himself of the plenty of salmon in these remote 

 northern parts. For I grant, others with myself of a like per- 



1 Northern Memoirs. Edition 1821, p. 203. 



