THE ORCHY 353 



Bridge of Orchy, about a mile of water, the Auch fishing. As a 

 matter of fact, the Blackrnount water properly extends from the up- 

 stream limit of Craig fishing to Loch Tulla, but there seems to be an 

 understanding that opposite the Auch bank the Forest Lodge tenant 

 does not fish. 



Spring fishing is confined to the water below the falls. The water 

 above the falls fishes only in summer and autumn. From what has 

 been already said of the main fall, this will be sufficiently clear. 

 The Craig pools below the fall are the chief pools where early fish 

 congregate, since it is against their habit to proceed further till the 

 water rises in temperature. 



The Dalmally Hotel water is, however, of great beauty, there being 

 a fine series of streams and pools with gravel banks. In general 

 character this lower Orchy is singularly like the lower Lochy on a 

 smaller scale. Much depends, however, on the condition of the Awe 

 in the early months of the year in making or marring the success of 

 the Orchy. Mr. M'Laren, the Dalmally hotel-keeper, has kindly 

 furnished me with his returns for the three last years. In 1908, the 

 river running very low, the fishing was unusually poor. By 6th 

 June only 3 Awe fish had been taken, and the season throughout 

 was certainly exceptional. The years 1906 and 1907 may, however, 

 be taken as fairly representative of what may be done in the Orchy. 



Dalmally Hotel. 



1906 - .'.... . 36 



1907 .--.. .... 40 



1908 . , - ... . 16 



With regard to the upper Orchy, there is the additional uncertainty 

 of suitable water for fish to ascend the falls below. What is wanted 

 is that early summer should be wet, and that a good stock of fish 

 should have run through the Awe in Spring. The best performance 

 I know of on the Inveroran water is 15 salmon in eight days to 

 one rod. Taking the Blackmouut and Inveroran water together, 

 the best result I know of was got in 1882, when three rods killed 

 49 fish in Inveroran and 23 in Blackmount. These catches were 

 recorded at the time in the Annual Reports of the Fishery Board 

 for Scotland. 



The Orchy is to the Awe what the Garry is to the Ness. The 

 upper part of the waterway is the early fishing river. The district 

 now under consideration is not so celebrated as the other, but the 

 conditions are very similar. The Ness and the Awe are, or were, 

 generally considered later rivers, or rivers in which spring angling 



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