THE FORSS 251 



The Crown hold the rights on the west side, and the Forss Trustees 

 on the east, and difficulties having arisen as to the proper line of 

 demarcation, the matter has now been settled by the erection of 

 iron posts by a competent engineer. Netting is now reduced. 



The fall on the river is so serious that late-running fish, if at all 

 heavy with spawn, are not all likely to surmount it. A limited 

 amount of spawning ground exists in the mile of water below, but 

 the excellent extent of spawning ground above could accommodate 

 more fish than manage to reach it. Spring fish enter the river, but 

 are of course found only below the fall. This stretch of water is 

 very sluggish, and fishes best with a stiff breeze. Twenty to thirty 

 fish may be regarded as the average spring catch. I am aware that 

 on two occasions 48 fish have been taken, and when the Crosskirk 

 netting was most keenly carried on, the total ran down to below 20. 

 I think 18 fish were hooked and only 9 landed, which may have 

 been the fault of the fishermen to some extent. Two rods usually 

 fish the water in March and April. It is let separately from the 

 shooting and autumn angling, and accommodation is commonly 

 obtained in a neighbouring farmhouse. It has been reported that 

 in 1902 two rods, Colonel Philpotts and another (probably Mr. 

 Arkwright, who was shooting tenant of Westfield, for each fished 

 three days a week at that time), killed 160 fish in six weeks' spring 

 fishing. I fear there is something wrong about this. I think a 

 naught has somehow been inserted after the 16. But at this time, 

 as reported, Colonel Philpotts had 7 fish one day. 



Black, who was then keeper, and who is now at Brawl Castle on 

 the Thurso, tells me that the best spring fishing he saw on the 

 Forss was in 1903 when, from the opening to the end of May, 

 55 salmon were killed. 



Fish begin to ascend the fall towards the end of May, but for the 

 most part the grilse, which come rather later, are the fish which 

 succeed in surmounting the obstacle. About 50 to 60 fish are taken 

 in the autumn, above and below, so that the yearly average may be 

 estimated roughly as 100. 



Measuring the height of the fall with the eye, I estimated it as 

 about 25 feet. It is divided roughly into two sections, each of which 

 is composed of many ledges, the rock being bedded horizontally. 

 The fall, therefore, has a tendency to form a series of cascades, and 

 as the ledges become worn or give way, the water receives a certain 

 zig-zag direction. This is taken advantage of by ascending fish, 

 indeed without these zig-zags no fish could possibly accomplish the 



