312 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



QBE. 



The principal features here are a fairly large fresh-water loch, 

 called Loch Steisevat, close to a large salt-water channel, winding 

 in from the Sound of Harris. From time to time artificial channels, 

 have been formed in different places so as to make the communication 

 between the fresh and the salt water in the most advantageous 

 manner, and these channels have commonly been sluiced for the 

 purpose of controlling the water-flow. Now, the short run of 

 water passes out at its south-eastern extremity, and in this way the 

 most use is probably made of the tidal water. 



The fresh water flows first into what is called The Mill Pool, a 

 shallow basin not reached by salt water in the lowest neaps, but 

 freely filled during spring tides. Ordinary half -neap tides raise its 

 level about 18 inches. From this Mill Pool the tidal channel has a 

 strong current up and down, and about half way to the sea there is 

 a pool in which fish congregate. 



The Mill Pool yields good sport with sea-trout as early as March 

 and April, but the great bulk of the fish are finnock or herling, i.e. 

 the juvenile grilse stage of the sea-trout. More adult fish of 2, 3, 4, 

 and even on occasion up to 8 lb., are, or have been, got. About 

 600 to 700 sea- trout, small and great, may be expected in a good 

 spring. 



The tidal channel lower down yields the chief fishing in summer 

 and autumn, particularly in the pool already referred to. It is 

 noticeable, however, that fish do not take well in the salt-water 

 channel if much fresh water is descending from Loch Steisevat and 

 the lochs above. If a flood or considerable rise is " on," fishing is 

 transferred to Loch Steisevat into which the fish naturally travel. 



A considerable sprinkling of salmon and grilse, mostly grilse, also 

 enter fresh water at Obe. They are not usually susceptible to the 

 lure of the angler in salt water, and do not hang about tidal 

 channels as sea-trout do. Loch Steisevat is the chief place to 

 expect the salmon to rise, and in its mile of water there is con- 

 siderable space for plenty of sport. The salmon seldom exceed 9 or 

 10 lb. in weight. So far as I know, a fish of 14 J lb. (which in all 

 probability was a big bull-trout, as known in the Tweed or Coquet, 

 i.e. Salmo trutta eriox) constitutes the record weight. 



About 1000 to 1200 sea- trout and about 70 salmon are expected 

 each season at Obe, but it may be noticed that sea-trout here have 

 to be referred to before salmon, as in other Harris localities. 



