412 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



the Castlefern waters. From the source of the first to Lincluden 

 Abbey is about twenty-five miles. It is a fine stream throughout, 

 with good running water, all but about the last mile which is some- 

 what flat. A footbridge crosses at about the head of this quiet 

 water, and a footpath follows the left bank. The main road crosses 

 about a mile further up. Trout, salmon, and grayling are caught in 

 the Cluden. 



The Dumfries and Maxwelltown Angling Association share a deal 

 of this water with the Galloway Angling Promotion and Protection 

 Club. The former rent the Lincluden salmon fishing, and the Jar- 

 dineton and Ashyholm sections further up, which are chiefly looked 

 upon as trouting and grayling water. The members of the latter do 

 not, so far as I know, specially seek salmon fishing, but have trouting 

 rights on about seven miles of water from Stepford, which is about 

 seven miles up from the mouth ; they fish both banks down to near 

 the Irongray bridge, and then the right bank at Terregles and the 

 Grove. 



Cluden Mill is situated at a bend of the river where an irregular 

 ridge of rocky ledges occur. From the highest part, situated out in 

 the stream, wooden barriers have been erected to each bank so as to 

 form a mill dam dyke. It is not a serious obstruction, but required 

 a pass. 



Next above this comes the so-called Cluden Cruive. This till 

 lately was a quite unique sort of engine. A heck was run right 

 across the river, at an island which occurs, and at the point of main 

 water-flow a gap was formed into which an iron cage with an inverted 

 mouth and no possible exit was lowered by means of a short iron 

 crane. The iron cage has now been done away with, and the cruive 

 conforms to the usual type. In addition to this the cruive is not 

 now fished more than a few times a year. Just above the cruive 

 hecks, a low and smooth weir about two feet in height occurs. This 

 is the West Mill dyke, now provided with a gap. 



The next obstruction is the natural waterfall at the Gribton 

 Eocks. In two rocky holes close to the left bank, below the fall, 

 and close to the Gribton Sawmill which stands here, a net stretched 

 between two poles and worked by two men each holding a pole and 

 searching the crannies of the pools, used to be worked After litiga- 

 tion it was discontinued. The falls at all ordinary levels are total 

 obstructions and should certainly be blasted as, I believe was arranged 

 for before the late proprietor of Gribton died. There is a low mill 

 dam for purposes of the sawmill just above the fall, tapering away 



