208 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



elliptical line round the Kyle basin. The second abrupt rise is not 

 so uniformly exposed, the erosion of the valleys being uneven, but 

 10 miles up Glen Cassley one finds a second rise the upper falls 

 while the site of the old Limestone Quarries at Shiness, on Loch 

 Shin, probably indicates the line in that valley. Various shallow 

 belts traverse Loch Shin, seeming to repeat and exemplify the 

 manner of valley erosion in the schistose rocks of this region. 



Improvements in netting, increased facilities for marketing 

 salmon, and consequent keen competition, have, however, done for 

 this district what they have done for others. The rivers do not 

 now teem with salmon. This was so far realised by the proprietors 

 of salmon rights, that in 1906 a syndicate was formed for the pur- 

 pose of acquiring control of the nets, reducing their number, and 

 improving the rod-fishing. For many years the netting had been 

 confined practically to the Kyle at Bonar Bridge, but to improve 

 the catching power at this the key to the whole district, much had 

 been done in the formation of good hauling grounds ; even long 

 platforms, with sloping gravel shores, had been created so as to 

 enable nets to be shot and drawn some distance from the actual 

 beach. Above and below the mouth of the Carron, above the 

 bridge, and on a natural bank opposite the mouth of the narrows 

 below, this proved most effective. 



The syndicate, following up the efforts of the late Dr. Almond, 

 of Loretto, who for years had striven along the same lines indi- 

 vidually, took over all the nets of the Kyle, and, by means of a 

 committee, arranged that no netting be carried on above Bonar 

 Bridge ; that netting be not commenced till 1st April ; that the 

 Balnagoun and Skibo nets be alone fished in April and May ; and 

 that a 60 hours' weekly close time be observed from 6 p.m. on 

 Saturday till 6 a.m. on Tuesday. These operations came into force 

 in the season of 1907. 



It was not expected that a profit would be made, but it was 

 hoped that the results would go far to recoup the outlay in rentals, 

 etc. Unfortunately, the loss on the first season's fishing was heavy. 

 The syndicate was compelled to retreat from the standard upon 

 which they started. In 1908, although the 60 hours' weekly stop 

 was continued, the nets were put on again above the Bridge. Un- 

 happily it was again a poor season. 



The arrangement holds good without a break for four years, 

 and, in my opinion, it will be most unfortunate if the syndicate's 

 endeavours to reduce the Kyle netting are abandoned. All opera- 



