C H A P T E R X L I V :• ' 



AENISDALE, CARNACH, GUSERAN, INVERIE 



The Arnisdale, Carnach, Guseran, and Inverie are four short, 

 typical West Coast streams, not very far apart, flowing into Loch 

 Hourn, the Sound of Sleat, and Loch Nevis. The Arnisdale flows 

 into the north shore of Loch Hourn, and has a sharp faU four miles 

 above its mouth, which bars the further progress of fish. It is 

 strictly preserved, as it runs entirely through the Arnisdale Forest. 



The Guseran flows through the Knoydart estate of Mr. E. 

 Salvin Bowlby, and falls into the Sound of Sleat after a run of ten 

 miles. From July to the end of the season, when in good ply, it 

 yields excellent sport with salmon, grilse, and sea trout, especially 

 with the latter. 



The Inverie, another river of the Knoj'dart estate, flows out 

 of Loch Dhulochan — a small, dark-looking loch, as its name indi- 

 cates — and, after a run of three miles, falls into the salt water of 

 Loch Nevis a little to the east of Inverie House. Some twenty- 

 five years ago, when staying with Mr. J. Baird, \\'ho then owned 

 Knoydart, another guest and myself took from Loch Dhulochan 

 close on loo sea trout in the day, averaging just over f lb., and 

 a salmon of 22 lb. This take, however, ^^•as an exceptionally 

 good one, though daj's of three dozen were common events, which 

 happy state of affairs probably stiU continues. 



The Carnach is a small stream, also on the Kno5'dart property, 

 of barely three miles in length, and runs into the head of Loch 

 Nevis, and is reached from Inverie House by boat — either by a 

 long pull of some ten miles with the oars, or by a steam-launch. In 

 spite of its short course, it holds a good few salmon and sea trout — 

 many more, indeed, than one would expect — while it has some few 

 nice-looking holding pools. Of this we had ample confirmation 

 during my stay at Inverie, for our host, having heard one morning 

 that the Morar poachers were coming to net the river during the 

 ensuing night, very quickly determined to be in front of them, 

 and, accordingly, he netted the stream during the day, and from 

 it we took twenty-eight salmon and grilse, and nearly a hundred 

 sea trout, mostly small ones, although there were a few of fully 

 3 lb. Our catch was distributed amongst the inhabitants of the 

 district, and when the poachers came, they had their trouble lor 

 nothing. 



When there is water, each of these four streams oft'ers fascinating 



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