THE LOCHY AND TRIBUTARIES 217 



best in a moderate spate, on the subsidence of which nothing can be 

 done except with a worm. 



The last few seasons have been unusually bad ; but before then 

 the river yielded well, many of the fish being very heavy, even up 

 to 40 lb., these large ones being usually got towards the end of the 

 season. But with wet weather, June, July, and August are the 

 best months. 



The 1896 Report of the Fishery Board states that the take on 

 the Lochy for 1895 was below the average, and that the register 

 of the exact numbers of salmon caught was not kept ; that the first 

 clean fish was got on the 30th of March ; that the main take was in 

 June, July, and August, with grilse appearing at the end of June, 

 all of which dates can be accepted as applicable to every year within 

 a few days. The Report further states that there were no prose- 

 cutions for poaching, although fifteen water baihffs were employed. 



The 1898 Report says that, though the take was below the 

 average, 222 salmon, 357 grilse, and 1742 sea trout were taken by 

 the rods — a pretty good score for a catch reported as below the 

 average ! 



In April and May 1898, No. 3 beat gave forty-five fish, averaging 

 i5 lb. ; while in 1899, in the month of April, it yielded just twenty 

 others of the same good weight. In the autumn of 1899, No. 2 

 beat, during September and October, gave forty-three salmon of 

 12 lb. average, and twenty-four grilse of 5 lb., which figures may be 

 taken as an approximate guide for all the other beats except No. 7, 

 chiefly a tidal water, which naturally is not so prolific. 



The Fishery Board Report also mentions that Lord Abinger 

 has started a hatchery on the Cour, a small tributary of the Spean, 

 falling into it at Corriechoillie Farm ; also that it is thought there 

 are nowmore fixed nets outside the estuary than at any previous time, 

 which has rather an injurious effect. Personally, I consider that 

 the increase in the numbers of the nets has a very injurious effect, 

 which will increase year by year unless a longer weekly close time 

 is not only decreed, but also duly enforced. 



Here, then, in the increased numbers with the continual " out- 

 rigging " of bag-nets, is the prime cause of the falhng off in the 

 Lochy and its tributaries. The poaching by scringing is a minor 

 affair. That it exists is certain, albeit with the large staff of 

 watchers there are no convictions recorded. 



There are many instances in Scotland of salmon fishings that do 

 not belong to the owners of the lands through which the rivers 

 flow ; it sometimes happens that A. may own the right bank and 

 B. the left one of a river, while C. has a claim to the fishings of both 

 banks with the power to enter the lands of A. and B. to prosecute 

 his right. This is the case with Lord Abinger, who holds a charter 

 granting him aU the salmon fishing in the Lochaber district, which 

 right for many years remained unquestioned. When, however, 

 science appeared on the scene in the shape of gunpowder, blasting 

 operations, and fish ladders, the question of opening up the Moun- 



