THE SNIZORT 315 



that in the central position which is also practically the centre of 

 Skye rises below the hill called Koineval ; that to the west from 

 Loch Duagrich in the parish of Bracadale ; that from the east from 

 beside the Glenmore and Mugeary clachans. 



These head streams unite at a point about six miles from the 

 mouth of the river at Skeabost, and about 300 feet above the sea. 

 In general character the Snizort is a rocky rather rapid river, flowing 

 through one of the long gentle inclines of this northern portion of 

 the island, which have been described as " weary wastes expanding 

 to the skies." At times the river slows up in a few open pools, but 

 much of the channel is rather shallow and stony, with occasional 

 cascades. At Skeabost there is a fall sufficiently difficult to check 

 fish if the volume of water is not well above normal. As a result, 

 the condition of the river has to be watched on the spot, and suc- 

 cessful angling is attained only by one who is able to sally forth on 

 the proper days. At other times the river is rather " dour." A 

 large number of salmon frequently ascend at the spawning season, 

 and make a short stay in fresh water, falling back to the tidal pools 

 at the mouth to recover condition to the necessary extent before 

 putting to sea again. 



The arm of Loch Snizort Beag, into which the river flows, is a 

 shallow tidal channel, left bare at low-water for about half its 

 length a place where oysters grow well. The estuary of the river 

 is drawn, as regards its seaward limit, at the mouth of Loch Snizort 

 Beag, but no fixed nets are now fished on this side of Skye. 



SLIGACHAN RIVER, 



like the Snizort, flows, as it were, along the main axis of the island, 

 about north-north-west, although Loch Sligachan, the sea loch into 

 which it discharges, lies north-east. Loch Sligachan, which forms 

 the natural estuary of the river, is a dark-looking narrow inlet with 

 high land on either side ; its entrance is directly opposite Kyle 

 More the passage between the south end of Kaasay and Scalpay, as 

 if the denuding force which formed Loch Sligachan had also carved 

 the separation of the two outlying islands. On this east coast of 

 Skye numerous bag nets are fished, but none come near this river. 

 Most are set along the high straight coast north of Portree. 



The Sligachan may be said to rise from the little Dubh Loch, 

 which is four miles from the mouth, but the stream which comes 

 down Harta Corrie for two miles from a very high source joins the 



