THE SHIEL DISTRICT 325 



The public have very considerable facilities for fishing Loch Shiel, 

 although some points are not very easy to reach. "The Stage 

 House " at Glenfinnan is now, of course, on the railway line, but the 

 head of the loch is not as a rule considered the best for fishing, or at 

 least this is so if sea-trout are sought. The Strontian Hotel has a 

 boat, but is rather far from the loch. The favourite places are Loch 

 Shiel Hotel, built in recent years for the benefit of anglers, and over- 

 looking the foot of the loch, and Ardshealach House, which, I under- 

 stand, is made available in the same way. The shootings are rented 

 by Lord Howard of Glossop, as they adjoin his own property of 

 Dorlin at the mouth of the river. Great advantage in reaching this 

 district, and for the transport of mails, have been possible through 

 his Lordship maintaining a small steamer on the loch, the use of 

 which was open to all. Difficulties with the Post Office were, I 

 understand, the reason for the discontinuance of this most serviceable 

 little vessel. It is hoped, however, that by the time these pages are 

 printed the steamer will again be plying to and from Glenfinnan. 

 The place of landing and departure there is at a small staging in 

 the mouth of the Gallop. When this service stopped, mails and 

 passengers were driven round by Strontian and Salen Sunart, or the 

 passengers could sail from Oban to Salen, and so across to Loch 

 Shiel. Either route occupied a fearful lot of time, and gave one 

 ample leisure to admire the beauties of Argyll. 



At the lower end of the loch the chief sport is got with sea-trout, 

 of which large numbers are often present. It sometimes happens, 

 however, that fish are mostly found above the narrows or even at 

 Glenfinnan. Salmon and grilse are not got every day, but may be 

 fished for either trolling or with fly. The brown trout often run heavy. 



EIVER SHIEL. 



This river, which forms the boundary between Inverness-shire 

 and Argyll, is only about 2f miles in length, and as Loch Shiel is only 

 between 11 ft. and 12 ft. above sea-level the gradient of the river is 

 extremely easy. The photograph showing the river pouring down 

 into the tidal basin at the mouth scarcely gives this impression, but 

 this part, when the tide is out, is the only piece of rough water there 

 is. Most of the river is also three or four times as broad as is 

 shown at the mouth, for here the rocky barrier confines and dams 

 back the flow. The pool just above this barrier is called the Sea 

 Pool, but although the rise and fall is very considerable in Loch 



