The HELMSDALE, OR KILDONAN 37 



Torrish keeper, prefers the Black Doctor dressed with a guinea-fowl 

 hackle at the shoulder, in lieu of the usual one of claret. Mackay 

 always swears by an invention of his own, " the Torrish Favourite," 

 a pretty fly which he dresses as follows : — 



Tag. Silver twist ; yellow floss silk. 



Tail. Gold pheasant topping ; black ostrich but. 



Body. Yellow floss silk half-way, the remainder yellow and 

 red mohair ; silver tinsel all the way up ; ginger hackle tied in 

 half-way ; guinea-fowl hackle at shoulder ; bronze turkey wing 

 with gold pheasant topping over. 



" Joe Brady " is also a good killer, the dressing being nearly 

 the same as that of " The Torrish," already described in the chapter 

 on the Brora. The beats are divided as under, starting from the 

 sea up : — 



Beat No. i 



[From the Sea to Soliscraggy Bridge ; best in big water) 



Flat or Black Pool ; in 1895, Captain G. W. Hunt had ten 

 fish one day from this. Marrel Pool, good in big water ; Lower 

 Caen Pool ; Upper Caen Pool ; Railway Bridge Pool ; Sand Pool ; 

 Jones' Pool ; Alder Pool ; Stall Pool, best fished from right bank. 

 Soliscraggy Pool ; in 1895, Mr. Parker took fifteen fish in one day 

 here ; also a good grilse cast. 



The whole of this beat fishes best in spring with plenty of water. 

 At Soliscraggy Bridge, on the left bank, there is a pretty little 

 cottage of the same name which goes with the Badenloch beat, 

 while near it is Birchwood Cottage, which goes with Auchintoul, 

 and from these two charming little houses the occupants of these 

 respective beats carry on the spring angling. 



Be.\t No. 2 



{From Soliscraggy Bridge to Upper Torrish Park. Fishes best in 



Spring) 



Kilpheddar Pool ; Eldrable Pool, fishes well on both sides ; 

 Gate Pool, best on right bank ; Park Pool, best from left bank ; 

 Carew's Pool, best from left bank ; Woody Pool. 



Beat No. 3 

 {From Torrish Burn to the Big Tree on the left bank at the Big Bay) 



Lower Torrish and Upper Torrish Pools, two of the best on the 

 river ; Tail and part of the Big Bay. 



A very fine beat in spring, from which ten to fifteen fish have 

 often been had. 



The late Mr. R. K. Dawson had fifteen one day, and Mr. Charles 

 Ackroyd twelve. 



