THE SHIEL 327 



now very largely deserted, and that the stock of fish is not what 

 it was. To account for the altered habits of Shiel salmon, Mr. 

 Stone blames the growth of weeds in the river bottom. It seems to 

 be borne out by records that when the river was regularly netted, 

 the sport with the rod was better than it is now. One can well 

 believe that by the regular action of the nets, the weeds had no 

 opportunity of growing. As many as 100 fish are reported to have 

 been taken from the Bridge Pool in one haul, while 63 salmon and 

 grilse were got by two rods in six weeks. 



No netting has now been carried on for twenty years, and after 

 the nets were taken off, the rod results improved, but during the 

 last ten years a decline seems to have set in. Suggestions have 

 been made for the possible increase of the weekly close time in the 

 sea nets and even for the re-introduction of netting in the river for 

 one day a week. 



I certainly think the weeds should be got rid of, but I am 

 inclined, so far as I see at present, to think that some such method 

 as that already hinted at by me is likely to be more in the best 

 interest of the river than resorting to netting, especially if the 

 netting is done by a tacksman. 



The picturesque old bridge is now closed for traffic, and Mr. Kudd 

 has built a new bridge some little distance further up. The old 

 bridge is a simple structure of one arch, spanning the river at the 

 Gullet, which is a narrow and very deep cleft in the large barrier of 

 rock which here projects, and which probably at one time formed the 

 lower end of the loch. 



I believe the water in this narrow neck to be about 30 feet deep. 

 More than half a mile of river still exists, but for the most part is 

 broad and rather shallow, with no pool-like character, and with flat, 

 grassy banks. The upper part merges imperceptibly into the loch. 

 This stretch is called the Boat Pool, since it is fished from a boat, 

 although I understand that from a point above the new bridge a 

 cast from the bank is possible when the river is high. The boat is 

 used on alternate half days by the two proprietors. It is reckoned 

 that on an average season 100 fish should be landed on each bank. 

 Mr. Stone has, I believe, taken as many as 72 fish in eight weeks. 

 To secure better lies, no device seems to answer so well as the 

 erection of croys or partial weirs to direct the water-flow, scour out 

 runs, deepen the water at advantageous points, and so hold fish. 1 



A good run of grilse generally occurs in June, and the grilse are 



l vide Appendix B. 



