30 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



just on the west of Forss Bridge close to the river. Applications 

 may be made to Mr. Alexander Mackay at Forss House, of which 

 he has a long lease. This house, so prettily placed by the falls, 

 has the advantage of being well timbered, which, in the nearly 

 treeless county of Caithness, is a great attraction to all the small 

 birds of the neighbourhood, and the rookery is of remarkable 

 dimensions. This ancient house also contains the two-centuries- 

 old wooden stirrup-cup of Forss ; round it is carved, in curious 

 letters and odd spelling — 



ATT everey Bout 

 Drink it Out ; 



but as it holds more than a pint, it is to be hoped it was not filled 

 with anything stronger than claret or ale. 



The Fishery Board Report for 1883 says that in 1882, Macnicoll, 

 the then keeper, had a day of eleven fish, and altogether a total 

 of forty-six in six days ; that in 1884 the take to the rod was 

 200 fish, which had been gradually increased from fifty or sixty 

 to that respectable total by the aid of a hatchery started some 

 seven years earlier by Mr. Pilkington, and now removed to Sandside. 

 The 1883 Report also says that Macnicoll marked many smolts, 

 some of which were got as salmon in the Duncansbay Head nets 

 twenty-five miles to the east of Forss mouth. It is to be regretted 

 the Report does not state the time that lapsed between the marking 

 of the smolts and their being taken as salmon. 



The fishing has gone off since the days of Macnicoll, and perhaps 

 the removal of the hatchery has had something to do with it, for 

 of late 5'ears there is no record of any take approaching 200 fish. 

 In 1892 two rods got 160 fish in March and April ; in 1894 other 

 two had fifty ; in 1898, Sir Redvers BuUer and Colonel Wyburgh 

 had thirty from the ist of March to middle of April ; and in 1899, 

 John Black, the present keeper, did not make up twenty for the 

 spring, which was only in accord with the poor sport had nearly 

 everjrvvhere else that bad season. 



In 1892, Colonel Philpotts had the water, and after a blank 

 fortnight he had two days of seven and five fish, the start of these 

 good times being commenced with a false step and a header into 

 deep water ! but the gallant Colonel only laughed at his misfortune, 

 quickly changed his clothes, and was then rewarded by the seven 

 fish. 



The mouth of the Forss is small, shallow, and rock}'. The 

 bag-nets there are undoubtedly iUegally fixed, and have been 

 reported as such by Mr. Archer ; but nothing has been done, except 

 that the renter of the nets has offered Mr. Mackay an extra twelve 

 hours' weekly slap, a compromise which, though he has accepted 

 it, is nevertheless a bad precedent, and does not do away with 

 the fact that the tacksman is breaking the law, to which the atten- 

 tion of the authorities has been directed by the Head Inspector of 

 the Fishery Board, and no notice taken. 



