244 



THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



years the angling covers a period of llth January to end of June, 

 and eight rods may be estimated as pretty steadily at work. 



The nine quinquennial averages derived from these 45 years are 

 714, 760, 744, 438, 490, 486, 357, 225, and 323. The marked drop 

 comes about the year 1880, after the first three periods have closed, 

 when the change is from 744 to 438. A slight recovery follows, 

 and then a steady decline sets in till 1902, when the lowest point 

 is reached, and only 139 fish are taken by eight rods in four and a 

 half months very poor fishing for the famous Thurso. As we 

 shall see presently, however, various operations have been under- 

 taken in order to secure a steady continuance of the improvement, 

 so that the river may once more attain its high reputation. 



The right of fishing in the entire river is held by the Ulbster 

 estate. Previous to 1888 the river fishing was tenanted by Mr. 

 Dunbar ; but in that year he died and Sir Tollemache Sinclair took 

 over the control. In 1891 he let the spring fishing on a lease of 

 14 years to a syndicate of six anglers. The syndicate had a right 

 of netting in the river but did not exercise it, and no netting has 

 been carried on since. When the syndicate gave up the river it 

 was taken by Mr. Pople, the tenant of the Grimersta fishings in the 

 Lewis. Mr. Pople, however, gave up the Thurso in 1907, and now 

 Sir Tollemache has again the management. 



Nothing has occurred in recent times in the fresh water to injure 

 the river in any serious way, although the sewage of Thurso, 

 including the effluent from a gas work, sheep washings, and the 

 presence of one distillery at Halkirk (which does not appear to do 

 much distilling) may have had some influence. 



What then, it may be asked, had been going on in the sea near 

 the river ? The coast line of the Thurso district is about 30 miles 



