344 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



The season 1908 was, on the whole, bad for angling. More 

 especially in the autumn the weather was dull and hazy ; fish did 

 not rise freely, and for the most part laid hold poorly. On all 

 hands I was informed that an unusual number of salmon were in 

 the Awe, and apparently anglers have experienced some exasperation 

 in seeing large fish and being unable to get hold of them. Yet, as 

 far as I have been able to ascertain, the total catch was 253 salmon 

 and grilse, made up of the following: 136, 28, 5, 37, 35, and 12. 

 I have no doubt the river will do better still. 



In February, 1909 (25th to 1st March), 4 fish were taken, 18 lb., 

 21 \ lb., 23 lb., and 29 lb. All these early fish are reported as par- 

 ticularly shapely ; the 29-pounder just referred to, for instance, was 

 42J inches long and 24 inches in girth. 



The various fishings of the river and their relative positions will 

 be most satisfactorily understood by referring to the sketch-map 

 which I have prepared. 



Great apprehensions were felt by many interested in the district 

 on account of certain proposals for leading water-power from the 

 head of the river to Bonawe, which seemed to imply a considerable 

 abstraction of water. Such proposals are at present, at least, in 

 abeyance. The interests of the salmon are perchance too strong for 

 the money-making instincts of man. 



The Awe is famous for heavy fish, and several over 40 lb. are 

 usually taken each year. Some years ago a 54-pounder was taken 

 from Pol Verie, and a 52-pounder from the Cruive Pool. Another 

 54 lb. fish was hooked in Cassan Dhu and landed at Crubeg, i.e. 

 from the top to the bottom of what previously was the Taynuilt 

 Hotel water. Mr. Augustus Grimble describes this famous run, 

 having seen part of it. He says that in following the fish from the 

 Otter Pool into the Stepping-Stones the schoolmaster was up to his 

 chin, and that the man was fortunately tall. Well, I have heard of 

 an Irish angler swimming down through a bridge with his rod 

 rather than allow a good fish to break him. 



In 1907 the heaviest fish was a 51 -pounder, I believe. I do not 

 recollect who caught it, but a 50-pounder was also landed by Dr. 

 Childs, a photograph of which he has kindly allowed me to see, as an 

 example of a large Awe fish. It was 51 J inches long and 28 J 

 inches in girth, breadth of tail 15 inches. I understand that a 

 photograph of this fish has already appeared in Country Life. 



Lord Breadalbane's Awe water used to be fished by the late 

 Colonel Murray of Polmaise, who, with his twenty-feet rod, also 



