THE CREE 247 



this syndicate holds the fishings up till the 31st of July, after which 

 they revert to Lord Galloway and the other proprietors until the 

 end of the angling season. All the nets and coble have been taken 

 off at a considerable outlay, in the hope of making a first-class 

 fishery of these streams. 



The Cree opens on the nth of February, closes for nets on 

 the 26th of August, and for the rod on the 31st of October. It 

 is an early river, containing clean fish in February, although April 

 is the best month for salmon, with June and July for grilse, the 

 former averaging about 12 lb. and the latter 5 lb. ; they rise well 

 all the spring and summer, but badly in the autumn, except in the 

 upper waters. A rod of sixteen to eighteen feet will be required, 

 and the standard patterns kill — Black Doctor, Durham Ranger, 

 Jock Scot, and Poynder for choice. Trousers are necessary in the 

 main stream, but no waders are wanted above the junction of the 

 Cree and the Minnick. 



The lower part of the Cree and Loch Cree are infested by pike, 

 their chief stronghold being a long stretch of dead water in the 

 neighbourhood of Penninghame House, the tenant of which, 

 especially if he be a member of the " Cree Crew," wages ceaseless 

 war against them. 



In 1902, " The Cree Crew " came to an end. 



In 1903, 70 salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1904, no salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1905, 84 salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1906, III salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1907, 164 salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1908, loi salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1909, 161 salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1910, 226 salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1911, 222 salmon and grilse to rods. 



In 1912, 123 salmon and grilse to rods. 



The Cree and the Minnock are each divided into three beats— or 

 six rods. The takes of the ten years above give an average of 140 

 fish per season, which, including Sundays, consists of 263 days ; so 

 it works out at about twenty-five fish per beat for the whole season. 



