THE AYR 375 



miles, are once more open to salmon. Some conception of the 

 amount of water which is abstracted at this weir will be formed 

 when I say that the deep and broad lade which passes off from the 

 right bank is conveyed by means of a quite extensive aqueduct to 

 the top of a high power-house, in which the famous Catrine wheels 

 are made to revolve and to develop about 500 horse-power. The 

 two water-wheels work in unison side by side. Each wheel is 50 

 feet in diameter and 12 feet wide. In dry weather all the river Ayr 

 is conducted over those wheels. At a time such as this I have 

 walked up the dry bed of the river for about three-quarters of a mile 

 from the outfall to the intake, and been reminded of the evidence of 

 a certain Scotsman before a Committee of the House of Lords, who, 

 to one interrogation, replied : " Weel, my Lord, in oor country it's a 

 weel kent fac' that whar there's nae water there can be nae fush." 



During the last six or eight years the numbers of fish seen in the 

 Ayr are reported as having greatly increased, but as yet fishing is 

 confined to summer and autumn. I see no reason, however, why in 

 course of time spring fish should not be found in the Ayr as in the 

 Doon, unless the pollutions at the river mouth become too much for 

 them. Grilse run early in June, and the fishing commences with 

 the first of the grilse. A good number of sea-trout ascend in July, 

 and help to increase the opportunities of sport. Salmon fishing is 

 practically confined to August, September, and October. In recent 

 years the heaviest fish known to be taken has been 28 Ib. Other 

 years had as their heaviest fish 25 Ib., 24 Ib., and 24| Ib. With 

 regard to the total taken by rod it is unfortunately almost impossible 

 to speak with certainty. The proprietors either do not keep a score 

 or keep an uncertain record, and on this account one is quite 

 unable in a district of such wide extent to arrive at an estimate of 

 what is taken from week to week. As nearly as may be gathered, 

 however, I believe the legal rod-catch is between 200 and 300 salmon. 

 The actual number of fish known and accounted for in 1907, for 

 instance, was 185, and it was admitted that the proper total was far 

 in excess of that figure. In 1908, in the same way, the actual 

 number known was 175, and the official report adds : " The actual 

 number caught was far in excess of that figure." 



