CHAPTER XXII 



THE THURSO 



This famous Caithness river, the largest and longest in the county, 

 drains one hundred and sixty-two square miles from its sources in 

 the Knockfin Hills on the Sutherland border to its outfall into the 

 sea at Thurso Bay. For the first twenty miles of its course, until it 

 flows into Loch More, it is little better than a big bum ; but on 

 leaving the loch for the final run of twenty-four miles to the sea, it 

 has all the importance of a river. As Loch More is but three hundred 

 and eighteen feet above sea-level, there is only an average fall of 

 some thirteen feet per mile, and consequently the bulk of the pools 

 are slow-running ones, called " linns," of almost dead water, only 

 to be fished to the greatest advantage when a steady up-stream 

 breeze ripples their surfaces. 



There are stone bridges at Thurso, Halkirk, and Westerdale, 

 with various wire bridges for anglers ; but the river can be crossed 

 in almost any part with stockings, or even in the knee-boots which 

 are mostly affected by the Thurso anglers. Before proceeding 

 further it will be as well to relate a little of the earlier history of the 

 river, which from time immemorial has been famed for the abund- 

 ance of its salmon. There still exists the certificate vouching for 

 the truth of the largest haul of salmon ever made. It is dated 

 Thurso, 23rd August 1792, and is as follows : — 



" Mr. George Paterson, now Baillie of Thurso ; George Swanson, 

 shoemaker there; and Donald Finlayson, senior fisher there, do here- 

 by certify and declare that upon the 23rd day of July, old style, we 

 think in the year 1743 or 1744, there were caught at one haul in the 

 Cruive Pool upon the water above the to^vn of Thurso, 2560 salmon. 

 These fish were caught by a large net beginning the sweep at the 

 Cruive, and coming down the stream to a stone at the lower end of 

 the pool. The net was carried down the water by about eighteen 

 or twenty men with long poles in their hands keeping down the 

 ground rope, and the fish were afterwards taken ashore by dozens 

 in a smaller net. Each man got a fish and some whisky for his 

 trouble. We further personally certify and declare that we were 

 personally present when these fish were caught. — Signed : George 

 Paterson, George Swansea, Duncan D. F. Finlayson." 



In more recent years, prior to 1852, these fishings were leased by 

 Messrs. Hogarth, of Aberdeen, who netted Loch More and had the 



