192 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS CH. XXXII. 



almost full of fish, it is so subject to floods and 

 sudden changes that the fish in it do not generally 

 rise well, being constantly kept on the move. 



Although these violent and often most unex- 

 pected risings of the river add much to its interest 

 in the eyes of the artist or spectator, they militate 

 sadly against the success of the angler, who has 

 frequently to gather up his tackle as he best can, 

 and run for his life ; or, after having made up his 

 mind to a week's good fishing, finds the river either 

 of a deep black colour, or of the hue and almost of 

 the consistence of pea-soup, overflowing bank and 

 brae, owing to some sudden rain-storm in the dis- 

 tant mountains of the Monaghleahd. 



The Spey is another glorious river — a finer river 

 for salmon than even the Findhorn : indeed the 

 rent paid for the salmon-fishing at the mouth of this 

 river proves it to be the best supplied water in 

 Scotland. Everything in this matter-of-fact age 

 brings its real and marketable value ; and, from 

 the amount of rent paid, the number of fish which 

 inhabit- each river may be very nearly ascertained 

 by a simple arithmetical process, as all fishing-rents 

 are proportioned correctly and carefully to the 

 number and value of salmon which can be caught. 

 The Spey is a fine wide stream, with a great volume 

 of water ; and although, like all Highland rivers. 



