CHAPTER XLI 



THE YTHAN 



Rises from the Wells of Ythan, some eight hundred feet above 

 the sea, in the Aberdeenshire hills, lying to the east of Huntly, 

 and pursuing a winding, smooth-flowing course of about forty 

 miles, falls into the North Sea at Xewburgh, some fifteen miles 

 to the north of the Dee. The Earl of Errol, Mr. Udny of Udny, 

 and Lady Gordon Cathcart are the chief ovmers of the nettings, 

 which are sublet to tacksmen ; the other river proprietors are Miss 

 Buchan of Auchmacoy, Mr. A. J. L. Gordon of Ellon, Mr. H. W. 

 Gordon of Esslemont. Colonel Rae of Auchterellon, Colonel John 

 Turner of Turner Hall, Mr. A. J. Eorbes Leith of Fj-^de, and the 

 Earl of Aberdeen, who owtis the best and largest share of the river, 

 as it flows through his estate for some fourteen miles on both banks, 

 from the borders of the Fyvie estate on the north to the boundary 

 of the Esslemont estate. Over nearly the whole of this lengthy 

 stretch of water his lordship most generously and freely gives per- 

 mission by tickets, reserving only a small portion for himself and his 

 guests at Haddo House. 



On the upper part of this water there is a very pretty glen 

 called the Braes of Gight, \\'ith which some interesting reminis- 

 cences are connected, the place having originaUy belonged to Lord 

 Byron's mother. 



The average take of fish to the rods on the whole length of the 

 river belonging to the Earl of Aberdeen is about a hundred fish 

 each season. Erom Ellon Bridge to Ey^'ie, pike are rather numerous, 

 though kept down as much as possible. 



The Ythan is a famous netting river, and from 3000 to 5000 

 sea trout, besides salmon and grilse, are usually captured, the chief 

 run of fish being in August and September, though the sea nets 

 begin to get fish from the ist of ilarch. In the tidal water at 

 Newburgh there are about four miles attached to the Udny Arms 

 Hotel, where at times good sport from a boat may be had with sea 

 trout and whitling, upwards of a hundred having once been got in a 

 day by two rods. Each season the Ythan nets, and sometimes the 

 rods, get some very heavy fish. In 1892, Dr. Eo\^•ler, of Ellon, on 

 Lord Aberdeen's water, had one to the fly of 44 lb. (Jock Scot, 

 Silver Doctor, and Butcher are the three favourites) ; and ilr. C. G. 

 Smith, the factor, had another of 36 lb. ; while the small museum 

 at Haddo House contains a stuffed fish of 51J lb., which was found 



