406 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



beneath steep and richly wooded banks, would make most attractive 

 angling to the fly fisher if only he was assured that more salmon 

 were present to be attracted by his lure. One does not need to 

 catch salmon to enjoy salmon angling, but one requires the con- 

 sciousness that there is the possibility of catching salmon, that one 

 is not exercising one's skill in quite barren water. 



It is remarkable that in the whole drainage area of the Mth, in 

 spite of many tributaries, there is no loch. With the exception of 

 four small lochs which drain into the tide-way south of Dumfries, 

 lochs are conspicuous by their absence. 



The neighbouring river Annan is always regarded as a much 

 better salmon river than the Nith ; and has a rent-roll from salmon 

 fisheries of fully 3000. A certain proportion of this, no doubt, 

 is derived from fixed nets in the Solway, the Nith District not 

 having a similar source of income ; but this does not account for 

 the great discrepancy of rental. The Nith figure is only a little 

 over 500, yet the Nith has a drainage area of 435 square miles, 

 while the Annan has only 350 square miles. 



The catch of salmon both by net and rod is a mere bagatelle 

 compared with what it should be. In 1905 it had sunk so low that 

 only 119 salmon and 90 grilse and 3907 sea-trout were taken in the 

 nets, while the rod fishings did not yield, I suppose, two score, a 

 return I have seen for 1902 did not make a total of one score, and 

 the total in 1908 is believed to be 22 fish. 



The reasons for the decline in the past have been threefold; 

 (a) pollutions from Dumfries and Maxwelltown, (b) over netting, 

 (c) the obstruction of almost all the tributaries. 



An important official enquiry was held on the question of pollu- 

 tion, on grounds other than the interests of the fisheries. The 

 tidal waters below Dumfries were, in consequence, declared by the 

 Secretary for Scotland to be " a stream " a technical requirement 

 to enable the proper authorities to deal with pollutions in tidal 

 waters and in consequence the Municipality was called upon to 

 purify its effluents. Sewage works were constructed and were com- 

 pleted in 1905, 



This has made a material difference. The Parliamentary Burgh 

 of Dumfries has a population of about 18,000. But up to the 

 present the trade waste and it comes from such important sources 

 as a dye work, two large tweed mills, and two hosiery mills has 

 not been allowed to enter the purification works, but, as formerly, is 

 poured straight into the river. Those who have seen what this 



