THE ANNAN 



i4t 



main stream and on the tributaries. Of these obstructions there 

 are fully fifteen, and though most of them are now made passable 

 for running fish in times of water plenty, until that was properly 

 done they formed almost insurmountable obstacles. The Bryde- 

 kirk Cauld, situated on the Mount Annan water, owing to faulty 

 construction at one time almost entirely stopped the progress of 

 the fish to the upper waters, but the evil was remedied in 1897, and 

 now iish ascend it easily. In many cases the mill lades and mill 

 wheels were not provided with protecting hecks, and thus numerous 

 salmon were trapped in the lades, while myriads of fry were killed 

 by the wheels. During the last three years, however, these evils 

 have also been greatly reduced, and there are now only a few cases 

 of unprotected lades and intakes. 



The Annan is a late river, but nevertheless the law declares it 

 open on the 25th of February, although iish do not put in an appear- 

 ance even on the coasts until April. The nets ply up to the loth of 

 September, while the rods fish to the 15th of November ; but it 

 would be better for the river and the fish if netting ceased on the 

 31st of August and angling on the 31st of October, while, if the 

 opening were also postponed until the ist of April, the poor Annan 

 might get a small chance of retrieving its reputation as a rod river. 

 The numerous alterations that have already been made in the 

 Annan close times are strong evidence that the ones most suitable 

 for it have yet to be discovered. 



The chief proprietors are Mr. Hope Johnstone of Annan- 

 dale and Raehills, Sir Robert Jardine of Castlemilk, Mr. David 

 Jardine, Mr. W. Younger, Lord Rollo and Dunning, Mr. A. J. 

 Johnstone of Halleaths, Mr. Brook of Hoddom Castle, and Jlr. 

 W. D. Mackenzie of Newbie and Farr. 



For eight miles below Moffat the right bank belongs to Mr. 

 Hope Johnstone, who, keeping in his own hands about a mile of 

 both banks of the lowest part of his water, generously gives leave 

 to the visitors and townspeople of Moffat to fish the remaining seven 

 miles of this very pretty stretch ; while on the ojiposite bank Sir 

 Robert Jardine is equally liberal. 



Many good reaches of the river can be fished on payment of 

 small sums. The Duke of Buccleuch's anglings, together with 

 parts of the Hoddom, Newbie, and Castlemilk waters, can be fished 

 in this way. This latter stretch extends on the left bank for nearly 

 three miles, from the Bech burn, a stream above Williamwalk 

 Bridge, to the junction of the Milk ; a water that is, perhaps, 

 better for trout than for salmon, but yet there is a good chance of a 

 fish any time when the river runs big after the nets are off. Good 

 takes of herling may be made off it in July and August, especially 

 by night fishing, which is not prohibited. On this stretch there 

 are thirteen pools, viz. Ivy, Dungeon, Manse, Row Green, Buttress, 

 Stag, Woodback, Shillholm Hass, Cauld Pool, Upper and Lower 

 Crawford, Dillholm, and Milkfoot. Wadingtrousers are necessary, and 

 each of these pools will take about twenty mmutcs to fish properly. 

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