LOCH LOMOND 365 



line across the river. Above the precipitous face of the barrier, the 

 bed of the river is rocky and much broken into ledges for a distance 

 of about 70 yards, with an additional rise of about 7 feet. Through 

 those rocky ledges it would not be at all difficult to construct an 

 efficient pass. If all stories are true, there would be great benefit in 

 preventing the crowding of fish which occurs in this Pot of Gartness 

 at the "back end" of the year, and in enabling the fish to become 

 distributed over the upper waters before they become heavy with 

 spawn. Several abortive attempts have been made to negotiate for 

 the opening up of the Endrick, but, unfortunately, the matter is 

 beset with some difficulty. 



With regard to the operations of the Loch Lomond Angling 

 Improvement Association, to which reference has already been made, 

 I may add that the hatching of salmon and sea-trout is now regularly 

 carried on at Luss, and that in addition to this, large consignments of 

 brown trout have from time to time been purchased and turned 

 down in the loch and adjacent streams. Prosecutions against 

 offenders under the Salmon Fishery Acts are conducted, and a staff 

 of watchers kept. For the more complete patrol of the loch the 

 Association propose to run a motor boat in future. Netting in the 

 loch for pike, eels, and powans are also regularly carried on. 

 Between 300 and 400 pike seem to be killed annually by this 

 means, over and above the number taken by angling. About 8 to 

 9 tons of powans are annually taken and a considerable quantity 

 of eels. I should think it very possible that a material increase to 

 the Association's revenue might be secured by developing an eel 

 fishery in the river Leven during each autumn, in the manner adopted 

 in Ireland. A good market exists in England, and the catching of 

 eels is a neglected industry with us in Scotland. Were this found 

 possible a reduced amount of salmon netting might then be possible 

 at the mouth of the Leven and in the Clyde. 



For the convenience of anglers in the loch a shelter has been 

 erected on the island of Darroch. Members of the Association can 

 provide themselves with keys, and in accordance with the wish of 

 the proprietor, the Duke of Montrose, any unattached angler can 

 secure a key for the day by applying to the Luss or Balloch hotels. 

 A new locality for fishing has recently been added by the Association 

 leasing rights of salmon fishing in Gare Loch. It is reported that 

 sea-trout are got by spinning with minnow. The Leven, Loch 

 Lomond, the Fruin, and this Gare Loch fishing constitute the sphere 

 over which the Association operate. 



