THE AYR, IRVINE, AND GARNOCK 245 



compelled the distillers of Speyside to discontinue the pollution of 

 the Spey, all other actions based on the same grounds must surely 

 have a similar ending ; and if the pollutions of these two pretty 

 streams were once done away with, there would be nothing to 

 prevent them from abounding in fish. But it would be wise, before 

 the defilements were abolished, to have it made clear that nets 

 were not to fish in the mouth or on the seacoasts nearer than they 

 have hitherto done. 



I may also say that in 1863, when quartered at Ayr one autumn, 

 I fished each of these rivers many times without ever seeing a salmon 

 in them. 



Thanks chiefly to the well-directed expostulations of Mr. Calder- 

 wood, the angling of the Ayr is decidedly improving. In 1905 the 

 dyke at Catrine was quite impassable, and cut off many miles of 

 spawning ground, and owing mainly to Mr. Calderwood's repre- 

 sentations it was removed in this year, and in 1906 all sweep-nets 

 ceased to work in the river. 



In 1907 the capture of 185 fish was known of, but probably 

 many more were got. 



On the Auchencruive water, one rod had nineteen fish in two 

 days. 



In 1908, 175 known to have been caught. 



In 1906, 266 known to have been caught. 



When I was quartered at Ayr in 1864 the Ayr was not worth 

 fishing for salmon, and I never heard of a capture. 



