332 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



Cuil Bay is north-east of Balnagown Island and south of the mouth 

 of Loch Leven, so that the limits of the estuary include not only 

 the Lochy and the Leven, but also the mouths of the rivers 

 Scaddle, Gour, and Sanda. 



A ghillie is provided by the Estate with each beat let to a 

 tenant, together with a boat or boats wherever necessary. 



The rents of the various beats vary somewhat according to the 

 season, but all particulars are at once obtainable from the agent in 

 Fort-William Mr. Thomas Allison, solicitor. 



The lowest beats are most readily fished from Banavie, the upper 

 from Spean Bridge or neighbourhood. If tenants use motors the 

 distances are little or nothing. The roads are good. 



Fish begin to run in March, as they do in the other early rivers 

 of the West Coast. The average weight is about 11 to 12 lb., but a 

 good number of the large class of spring fish may also be expected 

 16, 20, 25 lb. Several fish of over 30 lb. are usually taken. The 

 heaviest reported in recent years are: 1902, 38 \ lb.; 1903, 36 \ lb. ; 

 1904, 35 lb. ; 1905, 47 lb. ; 1906, 35 lb. : 1907, 32 lb. Good days of 

 5, 6, 7, and even 8 fish are sometimes got. 



In 1898, 222 salmon, 327 grilse, and 1742 sea-trout, or a total of 

 2321 fish, were secured, and this season was reported as below the 

 average. 



More recent seasons, and it must be understood that the figures 

 include both Lochy and Spean, make it tolerably certain that about 

 the total mentioned above may be pretty regularly expected. 



The natural conditions of this river in its outflow from Loch 

 Lochy were materially altered about a hundred years ago, when the 

 southern end of the Caledonian Canal was constructed. 



The old outlet of the river was appropriated for the formation of 

 the canal in order to keep the southern end of the canal on the 

 west side of the lower river. A new channel for the river in its 

 course from the loch to its junction with the river Spean had 

 therefore to be formed ; hence at the present time this section of the 

 river Lochy is purely artificial. 



The conveyance by George Cameron of Letterfinlay to the Canal 

 Commissioners of part of the lands of Mucomer, " being the ground 

 appropriated for a lockhonse and for a towing-path between the 

 said lockhouse and Loch Lochy. . . . and for a new water course 

 for the said river Lochy," may be seen in the Eecord Office. (27th 

 September, 1811. P.K. 20-14.) From a perusal of it, it appears 

 that the solum of the ground was conveyed without any express 



