234 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



UPPER BEATS. 



No. 1. " From Kildonan Bridge to Parapet below Suisgill Lodge." 

 There are two parapets at Suisgill, one above and the other below 

 the lodge. In this beat are three pools and several pleasantly 

 broken-up streams where fish may be taken by those who know the 

 water well. 



No. 2. " From said Parapet to Foot of Island above Surfaceman's 

 House." The island has before now been described as at old Suis- 

 gill ; it is, however, on Borrobol and properly on beat No. 3. There 

 are five pools in this beat, and as many as 12 fish have been taken 

 from it. 



No. 3. " From said Island to Kinbrace Railway Bridge." This is 

 a long beat with eleven pools, which in early summer sometimes 

 yield great sport. In 1896 a total of 81 fish were, I understand, 

 taken from this beat in ten days. It is the best upper beat. 



No. 4. " From said Bridge to junction of Badanloch Water." This 

 junction is that already referred to as near Kinbrace Railway 

 Station, and which properly forms the river Helmsdale. There are 

 five pools. 



No. 5. " From said Junction to Loch-na-Moine." This was the 

 beat the late Mr. Buckley was fishing when he made the wonderful 

 catch referred to later. The top pool Mr. Buckley calls " Still 

 Water Pool " ; its usual name is " The Canal." There is really only 

 one other pool in the beat, also rather quiet, called Crockan. These 

 two pools have to be in just the right order to fish really well. 

 Under ordinary conditions most fish are taken not so much from the 

 pools as from a number of little streams and runs which are also 

 included in the beat. The river is now a small one. 



No. 6. " To be Loch-na-Moine." This is an expansion of the 

 river in the form of a small loch, a short distance below Badanloch. 

 It is in this respect analagous to Loch Beg on the Thurso, and, like 

 it, is fished from a boat. The short length of river above Loch-na- 

 Moine is reserved for the tenant of Badanloch shootings. As I 

 write I have the sad news that the tenant who has occupied this 

 well-known lodge for many years has died. 



With regard to the manner in which the various beats may be 

 fished, definite rules are laid down by the estate. I have already 

 explained that the tenants do not confine themselves to their own 

 water, but fish the various beats by rotation. The order in which 

 the beats are taken are from above downwards, and from the time 



