CHAPTER XXIV 



THE COE 



A MOUNTAIN stream rising in the northern slopes of Buchaille 

 Etive, in the Dahiess Forest, which, after an impetuous run of five 

 miles through the Pass of Glencoe, expands into the small loch of 

 Treachten, two hundred and thirty feet above seadevel. 



From the foot of this loch to Invercoe, where the river falls 

 into the salt water of Loch Leven to the east of Ballachulish, there 

 is a further run of three miles, rather more than one-third of which 

 would be good angling if the fish could reach it ; their ascent is, 

 however, effectually barred by a sheer fall of some twelve feet. 

 From below this to the salt water is about three-quarters of a mile, 

 in which there are three good pools — One Pool, the Bridge, and the 

 Tidal. Both banks belong to Lord Strathcona, the anghng being 

 strictly kept for the owner and his guests. July and August are 

 the best months, no waders are wanted, whUe a grilse rod will cover 

 the pools. 



Jock Scot and Butcher are the two favourite flies, sizes from 

 medium to the smallest. The average take is ten salmon of 8 lb., 

 with the same number of grilse of 4 lb. ; the take, however, of each 

 season varies greatly according to the wetness or dryness of the two 

 best months. 



Cattenach, the keeper at Glencoe, teUs me that scringing is on 

 the decrease, and that the river mouth is also well watched. The 

 falls could easily be laddered, and the fish taken into Loch Treachten, 

 though it is doubtful if the anghng thus obtained would be worth 

 the expenditure. 



This river also yields an average take of two hundred sea trout 

 of I lb., the best flies for them being small Jock Scots, Butchers, 

 Zulu, March Brown, or any other flies with brown or yellow body 

 and mallard wing. In some books and maps this river is called the 

 Coe or Cona, but to avoid confusion the latter name is rarely used, 

 as in the Earl of Morton's Forest of Conaglen there is a stream called 

 the Cona, not very far distant, and falling into the northern end of 

 Loch Linnhe. 



