358 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



coming down its hill tract some 400 feet in about four miles. 

 When about 300 feet above sea-level it suddenly bends to the north- 

 west, and in about a mile and a half it passes out upon the northern 

 part of the flattish moor through which the Crinan Canal is cut. 



At Glassary the Add is only 50 feet above sea-level, and it has 

 still six miles to go to the sea at the western end of Crinan Canal. 

 Through this last stretch of flat country the river meanders in 

 deeply-cut loops. This is the best fishing section, although near the 

 mouth and practically in the estuary some great takes of sea-trout 

 are reported to have been made. In the sluggish waters of this 

 chief section a strong breeze is usually necessary to success in 

 angling, and on account of the highness of the banks the river 

 having eroded the peat and earth deeply the breeze can scarcely be 

 too strong up-stream. 



The Hon. A. E. Gathorne-Hardy has written of the .Add from 

 long personal knowledge, 1 to which I can in no way lay claim, and 

 relates that on one occasion, in a dead calm, he stood watching a 

 shoal of small salmon and grilse swimming round and round one of 

 the slack quiet pools. From his position on the high bank he says 

 he must have been as clearly visible to the fish as they were to him. 

 Nevertheless, one after another followed his fly when he presented 

 it and began to lay hold, so that he ultimately landed three and 

 hooked and lost one or two more. 



With reference to the water near the mouth, he says that 99 sea- 

 trout were on one occasion landed by a local angler in a single tide. 

 The salmon average 7J lb., and the largest fish Mr. Gathorne- 

 Hardy has taken, or that has been taken, was just over 20 lb. He 

 has had as many as 7 salmon in a day, and has on several occasions 

 taken 6, but I expect one has to be on the spot to take advantage 

 of the quickly passing opportunity to score like this. The rise and 

 fall of the Add is naturally very rapid, and it goes quickly out of 

 ply. Mr. Gathome-Hardy says, in the book referred to, that the 

 largest season's catch he has made was 49 salmon and 167 sea- trout. 

 Fish do not put in an appearance in this little river till about the 

 end of July. About that time in 1909, not long after I had paid 

 the stream a visit, as many salmon and trout must have been taken 

 in a single day by net. The weight of fish shipped at Ardrishaig 

 was very considerable. 



a Fur, Feather, and Fin Series (Salmon], p. 98. 



