THE CARRON AND KISHORN 189 



Kenneth's Forest of Attadale, at present held by Baron Wilham 

 Schroder. I believe Mr. Bainbridge preserved the river quite as 

 strictly as did his predecessor, while no tixed nets are allowed by 

 Sir Kenneth in any part of Loch Carron. 



The pools of the New Kelso water have mostly low banks, 

 which makes casting easy, while the catches themselves are of 

 shingle and not of rock. Fine tackle and small flies are essential, 

 for as the streams here run very clear, long casting is necessary. 

 A fourteen-foot rod will do all the work, while in a flood knee boots 

 or stockings are convenient, though the angler, on account of the 

 clearness of the water, should at all times keep himself as far off the 

 iish as possible. 



There ai"e some few local flies, but Jock Scot with the Blue 

 Doctor will hold their own. The average weight of salmon is 

 about 8 lb., and though sometimes they are got up to 18 lb., the 

 heavy fish rarely rise well, though, when they do take hold, the light 

 tackle and the small fly make most exciting sport. The sea trout 

 are small, but nearly always fresh-run, good fighters for their size, 

 which varies from i lb. to i lb., and delicious for the table ; heavier 

 ones are got now and then, but the majority of the large ones pass 

 through these lower pools without halting. 



August and September are both good months — the first small 

 and early flood in August is the cream of the time ; a big flood is 

 not good, as the fish leaving the pools spread themselves all over the 

 river and are difficult to find. 



If the New Kelso anghngs are well fished, they should give 

 from twelve to eighteen salmon with from 300 to 360 sea trout. 

 The names of the chief of the New Kelso pools are, from the top : 

 Lower Coulag, Little Bridge, Cruive, Old Woman's, and Long Pool — 

 this latter the best of the lot, and one which was greatly improved 

 by Lord Wimborne, who placed two groins at the lower end of it, 

 which had the desired effect of deepening the water, and it is now 

 a favourite one for salmon and sea trout. The highest spring tides 

 just touch the lower end of this pool, below which are some sea 

 pools, at times very fair for sea trout, but not regularly so. 



In this neighbourhood there is also a small mountain stream, 

 the Kishorn, which falls into the bay of the same name, an offshoot 

 of Loch Carron. It flows from the hill loch of Gannaich, on the 

 property of Sir Kenneth Matheson, and has but a course of five 

 miles, partly on Mr. J. C. Murray's Glenshieldaig estate and partly 

 on the Kishorn lands of Mr. John Stewart ; it is entirely a spate 

 river, which, when " right," will yield some sea trout and an 

 occasional salmon any time after the end of June. It is strictly 

 preserved, and has the same close times as the Carron. 



