ANGLING DISTRICTS. 137 



massy river, of considerable size and depth, well fre- 

 quented by salmon, and containing pike and yellow 

 trout. Its tributaries are the Meig and Orrin, along 

 with the Black Water, an excellent but severely pre- 

 served salmon stream. Its proprietor appears to have 

 singular notions with regard to his fishings, letting them 

 under strange limitations, and at a great disadvantage to 

 himself. It is remarkable of the Black Water, that the 

 fish ascending it, owing to its inky nature, in a couple 

 of days become quite dark- coloured and seemingly un- 

 clean. There are fine falls both on it and the Conan, 

 above which the salmon is seldom caught. The Ewe, 

 esteemed by Sir Humphry Davy the best salmon water 

 in Scotland, is of very inconsiderable length, reckoning 

 only two or three pools. These, however, when the 

 water is in trim, are literally alive with fish ; at times 

 you may raise one every other throw in. They do not, 

 it must be allowed, fasten readily, being fresh from the 

 sea, which appears to have some effect upon their 

 visual organs, as it is a matter of difficulty to secure 

 one out of five that offer themselves. This is a strictly 

 preserved water, as also is the Carron, which likewise, 

 in favourable weather, abounds with salmon, grilses, 

 and sea trout. The Shiel and Croe, in the district 

 of Kintail, enjoy the same reputation. Small flies 

 should be generally used in these waters. Among the 

 lochs in Ross-shire which claim our notice, is Loch 

 Maree, a superb expanse of water, extending from 

 head to foot sixteen miles, studded with wooded islets, 

 and walled in with magnificent mountains. Salmon 

 frequent its waters, along with abundance of trout. 

 The best angling lochs in Ross-shire are, however, of a 

 smaller size, although still very considerable in their di- 

 mensions. These are Loch Monar, in Strathorrin; 

 Lochs Fannich and Luichart, at the head of Conan river ; 



