THE BORGIE 



tl 



many more grilse would be left to ascend these rivers, and it is 

 remarkable that nothing has ever been done to give effect to these 

 strong and repeatedly expressed opinions. This Borgie is one of 

 the rivers that I venture to think could be vastly improved at a 

 small cost, which would soon be recouped by the increased value of 

 both net and rod fishing. 



When I visited it in June 1899, a lengthy drought had reduced 

 it to a mass of stones, and it was hardly possible to tell what it 

 would be like when full of water ; but thanks to the kindness of Mr. 

 A. S. Bolton, of Moor Court, Oakamoor, who now rents the Borgie 

 shootings, his keeper, Hugh Bruce, gave me much assistance, and 

 that, coupled with the valuable help of my old friend, Sir J. Edwards 

 Moss, who rented Borgie for twelve years, has enabled me to speak 

 with confidence of this pretty stream. 



The last-named gentleman writes me as follows : " It is now 

 some eight years since I wetted a line on Borgie, and therefore I 

 cannot speak with certainty as to its present condition. The river 

 is doubtlessly one capable of great improvement. About 1885 it 

 fell away to almost nil. This was in consequence of an abnormal 

 August flood in 1883, when three distinct thunderstorms met and 

 burst about Ben Loyal. So heavy was the flood that new channels 

 were cut, and the whole bed of the river torn up and altered and 

 widened, and thereby shallowed. In 1887, Mr. Brereton, who then 

 was the Duke of Sutherland's factor, promised me £10 a year towards 

 any improvements I cared to make, and this was continued for two 

 years, but withdra\vn on Mr. Breretcn's resignation. 



" In the meanwhile I had made certain quiet resting-places for 

 the fish, and the annual take began to increase largely. These 

 improvements were chiefly effective in the early spring, as when a 

 spate came, bringing down a lot of ice, I believed that fish were 

 swept back to the sea for the want of shelter, and the still, deep holes 

 I made enabled them to ' lie low ' while the ice passed over their 

 heads. As long as I had Borgie these dams were kept in good 

 repair, but I understand that they have now been destroyedbyfloods." 



In 1904 the rod take of the five rivers was 308 salmon and grilse. 



In 1905, 418 fish. 



In 1906, 678 fish. 



In 1907, 793 fish. 



In 1908, 510 fish. 



In 1909, 684 fish, a total of 3391, or an average take of about 

 570 fish to the rods per season. It may be taken that the number 

 of fish caught on each of the five rivers of the district can be 

 apportioned much as follows : — 



570 



