THE LOCHY 335 



those of the Kiver Lochy to which salmon have access. If the Loch 

 Lochy tributaries were again made available by the admission of fish 

 into the loch, a very large increase of salmon in all the waters of the 

 district would be the certain result. . . . 



" It is submitted, therefore, that more than a merely practicable 

 access or stair is wanted at Mucomer. The proprietor of the Lochy 

 fishing (Mr. Ellice) considers that as far as possible the same facilities 

 for the passage of fish as existed previously to the construction of the 

 canal should be restored. With this object the bottom of the 

 artificial cut should be so sloped down from a point considerably 

 above the Bridge of Mucomer as to present no greater obstruction 

 than any other rocky part of the river between Mucomer and the 

 sea. This can easily be done at no great cost, and since, but for the 

 exceptional circumstances before stated, the expense must have been 

 incurred when the canal was first made, the Canal Commissioners 

 may reasonably now be called upon to render Loch Lochy at its 

 present outlet, which is part of the works of the canal, as accessible 

 to salmon as was the case before the outlet was changed. 



" It is, moreover, submitted that this is exactly a case to which 

 the provisions of the existing Act, and the powers it confers upon 

 the Commissioners to make bye-laws, are intended to apply." 



As a result, apparently, of negotiations respecting this obstruction 

 at Mucomer, Mr. Ellice and Lochiel obtained the consent of the 

 Canal Commissioners to the construction of a salmon pass in 1874. 

 In 1878 the pass was completed. It is a little difficult, at this 

 date, to see the full design of the pass either from the banks at the 

 fall or from the bridge above, but on communicating with Mr. 

 Malcolm, Commissioner to Mrs. Ellice, I have received for inspection 

 the original plans and specification. The elevation of rock dealt 

 with was 16J feet. The top of the pass enters and traverses the 

 central arch of the bridge, where a series of irregular step-like 

 excavations of considerable extent were formed. The pass is then 

 carried in a transverse manner across the fall below the bridge and 

 the weir in the west arch ; then curving down-stream, enters 

 Mucomer Pool close to the right bank of the fall, where three pools 

 were formed (which still remain) by the erection of built barriers. 

 The length of the pass was about 120 feet. Including the clearing 

 of rock at the entrance and outlet, the average gradient is only one 

 in eight. The volume of water is large, and many of the seven 

 steps and breaks are so abrupt that even now, when 31 years of 

 wearing have passed, the amount of broken and very heavy water is 



