264 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



sea-trout. There is no road up the river, and distances have to be 

 undertaken mostly on foot. 



Below Gualen, Durness Lodge water comes in, and continues to 

 the mouth. This water is not so rough as that above, and is both 

 less extensive and more easily reached, since the high road is now at 

 hand. The total here is about 40 salmon and grilse, making, there- 

 fore, about 100 for the whole river. This lower water is, however, 

 better for sea-trout than that higher up, and when the water is in 

 good condition some excellent baskets are made. The Kyle of 

 Durness is of course well known as a haunt of sea-trout, and the 

 chief fishing of the visitors at the hotel there is in the tidal water, 

 where from boats sea-trout are angled for and taken in numbers. 



This tidal Kyle is fished perhaps chiefly from the Hotel, but both 

 Durness Shootings and Gualen have also a right to fish there. The 

 favourite bait is the natural sand-eel, and when stopping a night in 

 passing I have on occasion seen some large sea-trout brought in. 

 Here also is the famous Croisaphuill Loch containing its so-called 

 special kind of trout. It is, I have noticed, a loch of extremely 

 clear water, and I understand the fish are now very shy. I am 

 informed that an artificially stocked loch of small size in the 

 neighbourhood has yielded excellent fish. 



The crowded state of Durness Hotel in summer, situated as it is 

 at what might be called the northern jumping-off-place of Scotland 

 and about 55 miles by road from the railway station, is about the 

 best testimony I know to the popularity of fishing. Before now, 

 in June, I have been crowded out of the hotel and have with 

 great content occupied a little room in a little cottage all to myself. 

 I recollect so well the inevitable simplicity of one's habits in so 

 small a compass, the clear air that entered through window and 

 door at night, and the boom of Cape Wrath fog horn in the haze 

 of the morning. 



THE KINLOCH AND THE POLLA. 



These small rivers of this neighbourhood need not be referred to 

 at any great length. The former has an angling season from llth 

 February to 31st October, but does not generally hold fish till 

 summer. It is " a spate river " dependent entirely upon sufficient 

 water-flow to enable fish to ascend, and only to be fished 

 satisfactorily by one who is on the spot to take advantage of the 

 proper moment. When in order, however, it yields excellent sport, 



