204 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



centre of the glen, where the descent is more rapid than elsewhere. 

 The eight miles which form the main section of the glen show a 

 fall in level of only 153 feet. I have pointed out that in the case 

 of the Blackwater the descent to the main river from the outlet of 

 Loch Garve, past the Falls of Eogie, is fairly rapid. In the case of 

 the Orrin the descent from the mountain valley tract to the lower 

 ground below the fall is considerably greater, there being a drop of 

 fully 400 feet in 4 miles. 



THE ALNESS. 



This little river enters the Cromarty Firth on the north-west, and 

 has, therefore, a common estuary with the larger river Oonon. It 

 has also the same close times for rod and net. 



The river rises from a number of hill streams in the Kildermorie 

 Forest, which collect from the south of the ridge separating Glen- 

 calvie Forest on the north. The resulting stream flows north-east 

 and then south-east, a distance of ten miles, to Loch Morie, a sheet 

 of water about 2j miles long and 622 feet above sea-level. From 

 the loch, the stream passes off in an easterly direction, and in about 

 three miles is joined from the north by the Eusdale, which has a 

 course very nearly as long as that of the upper Alness. From the 

 junction at the Inchlum Woods the main river has a course of 

 seven miles to the sea below Alness village. The total length of 

 the river is thus about twenty miles, and as the fall in level in the 

 lower ten miles from Loch Morie is 620 feet, it will be readily 

 understood that the gradient in many parts is rather steep. I 

 understand that the river is considered by some to be the swiftest 

 in Scotland. A considerable part of the course is deeply cut down 

 in a deep glen, and the scenery is often beautiful. 



From a salmon fishery point of view the upper river may be 

 discarded, as salmon do not reach Loch Morie. The lower river 

 fishings are divided chiefly between Ardross and Novar, Dalmore 

 and Teaninich. A netting station of some importance exists at the 

 mouth, the nets being drawn on a great gravel beach and on arti- 

 ficially constructed cairns, which give good facilities. Each side of 

 the mouth and the lowest pool of the river are drawn by net and 

 coble. When the grilse make their appearance about the middle of 

 June the netting is brought into full swing, and July is recognised 

 as the best month of the year. The sporting value will probably 

 greatly improve if a project to remove the nets is carried out. 



When the season is wet and the river in good running order, 



