364 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



Loup of Fintry by three falls, calculated at 94 feet in height. From 

 this total obstruction to the ascent of salmon to the mouth of the 

 river the distance is about twenty-one miles. For a distance of ten 

 miles or so below the Loup the river presents a fine succession of 

 pools and streams, with much beautiful spawning ground ; then for 

 a few miles the bed is rather deeply cut in steep pastoral and, at 

 times, richly-wooded land where, in the neighbourhood of Gartness, 

 two rocky barriers are passed which require special mention ; then 

 lower down, where the railway viaduct crosses west of Drymen 

 Station, the river passes through flat meadows and the beautiful 

 woods round Buchanan Castle, the residence of the Duke of Mon- 

 trose. Here the course of the river becomes highly tortuous and the 

 current gentle. 



The two obstructions at Gartness are, in descending order, first the 

 double obstacle of a dam-dyke and fall at the village of Gartness ; 

 and second, beyond an extensive loop of the river course a more 

 serious fall at the Pot of Gartness. That salmon manage to sur- 

 mount both obstructions is sufficiently evident, for I have seen 

 numbers of fish above; but certainly the ascent must be accomplished 

 with difficulty. Both obstructions might with great advantage be 

 modified or provided with fish passes, so that the splendid spawning 

 ground above might be rendered of greater utility to the district. 

 This is the more desirable since, in proportion to the size of Loch 

 Lomond, the other available spawning streams are comparatively 

 small and rocky. 



The dam dyke at the village of Gartness is for the purpose of 

 supplying water-power to a small wool mill. The weir is above the 

 fall and the mill below the fall, hence the fall is deprived of the 

 water carried down the lade. There is a well-defined S-shaped 

 channel to the edge of the fall. It would not be difficult to lower 

 the crest and to improve the channel for some 30 to 40 feet, so as to 

 secure a much easier ascent for fish. The dam dyke just above is 

 about 5J feet high, but is unprovided with a gap of any kind. 



At the Pot of Gartness the obstruction is, as I have said, more 

 serious. The pool, forming the so-called Pot, is large and deep ; and 

 at times holds a very large number of fish unable to ascend. The 

 entire face of the rocky barrier is precipitous, and, in low- water con- 

 ditions, about 5J feet high. In times of flood this will no doubt be 

 sensibly lessened. The natural lead up for fish is by the left bank, 

 and on this side of the river the rock has been worn away to a 

 greater extent than elsewhere, so that the barrier starts in a curving 



