CHAPTER XXI 



THE SHIN 



Drains two hundred and twenty square miles, and is one of the 

 most beautiful and most sporting of rivers, for, though smaller than 

 roaring Awe, it much resembles it in character, as it also empties a 

 big loch and has but a short run to the sea. Loch Shin, from which 

 the river flows at Lairg, is some sixteen miles in length, with an 

 average wddth of three-quarters of a mile, and consequently the 

 river draining this large reservoir nearly always has some pools in 

 good ply. From the point where it ifows out of the loch to where it 

 lalls into the Kyle of Sutherland, three miles above Bonar Bridge, 

 the Shin has a rim of six miles, in which there is a total fall of two 

 hundred and seventy feet, quite sufficient to make a rapid running 

 stream. About four miles below the exit from the loch is a heavy 

 fall known as " The Big Falls," which in spring is the top pool of 

 the lower beat ; and though it has been opened up, and fish c£in 

 very easily ascend, it is rare for them to make the attempt before 

 the middle of May. Prior to that date aU serious salmon angling is 

 carried on from Mackay's Hotel at Inveran, renowned for its comfort 

 and pretty site on the bank of the Cruive or Home Pool. 



From the Big Falls to the Kyle the distance by river is some two 

 miles. Most of the angling is from the right bank, with the pools 

 nearly continuous, a short walk or scramble round some projecting 

 cliff speedily bringing the angler to a fresh cast. 



The birch-clad scenery of the steep rocky banks is wildly beauti- 

 ful, so much so that an American staying at Inveran Hotel recorded 

 in the visitors' book, " Talk of the scenery of KilUecrankie Pass, 

 why, the Shin licks it into fits ! " The river opens, hke the other 

 streams of the Kyle, on the nth of February, and can be fished by 

 rod till the 31st of October, the nets ceasing on the 26th of August. 

 ]\Iarch and April are the best salmon months, and June and July 

 for grilse. Clean fish are always in the water on the opening day, 

 and run from 7 to 30 lb. The angling is let by the month, and has 

 been held by the same set of gentlemen for many years, and, except 

 as a sub-let, a rod is very rarely to be had. From the nth of 

 February to the end of March the charge is £82, los., and all other 

 months are £100, August and September reckoning as one month. 



The fly is the only lure used, the landing net being compulsory 

 till the 1st of May, and the hotel ghiUies, John Ross and Hugh 

 Sutherland, are both supphed with these, and are also both good fly 



