THE CONON 199 



RIVER CONON. 



From the falls already referred to, the main river has a course of 

 about twelve miles to the head of the Cromarty Firth near Dingwall. 

 This course may be said to be across a plain interrupted at one or 

 two points by remnants of the old higher formation which have 

 resisted erosion to a greater extent than the surrounding flat 

 valley. At Comrie there is a constriction, and just above Newton 

 the rocks which form the Achilty Hill also make their mark in the 

 river bed in the shape of the Muirton Eapids. The river then 

 bends in a northerly direction with an even flow to the point where 

 the Blackwater enters. A large pool results, and the course becomes 

 easterly in a straight run to Moy Bridge. 



The Conon Fall and the fishings on the left bank down to Moy 

 Bridge belong to Coul, and the average number of fish taken is about 

 50, with a maximum of about 100. On the right bank, the short 

 stretch between the fall and the mouth of the Meig about a mile 

 of water goes with Little Scatwell. From the mouth of the Meig 

 on this bank the right of fishing goes with Scatwell Estate for a 

 distance of about five miles, when Fairburn comes in and continues 

 right down to the mouth of the Orrin. The estate also includes the 

 Orrin, where Fairburn Tower stands, as will be mentioned later. 



At Moy Bridge the river flows evenly over a clean gravel bed, 

 and presently divides round a considerable island. The mouth of 

 the Orrin is two miles below the bridge, and from the bridge to the 

 cruives has in the past always been considered the best spring 

 angling. Seaforth's fishings commence at the bridge, and continue 

 on the left bank to the mouth of the river, and on the right bank 

 from the mouth of the Orrin downwards. In the future the fly 

 rather than the net will ply, I hope, on the water below the cruives, 

 and I have no doubt this stretch will also yield its proportion of 

 " springers." 



Seaforth's Brahan Castle fishings have in the past been commonly 

 let from the opening till the end of April. I am able to give a few 

 recent spring results : 



Salmon. Sea Trout. 



1898 - .' . - - - 96 12 



1899 - * - - - - 69 6 



1900 - - ... . 123 



In the last-mentioned year 56 fish were taken by two rods during 

 the first ten days. In 1899 the tenant did not commence at the 

 beginning of the season. 



