2j^ THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



to make up his mind that he will fish the Earn in any given season, 

 tor if it is a dry one not a fish will he get. It takes two or even three 

 good spates after the nets are oft to brmg the fish up to Crieff, and 

 even then, unless the weather keeps moist, the river runs down very 

 quickly. I have often thought the Earn might be " Grimersta-ed '" 

 by storing up the waters of the loch so as to be able to create a 

 spate at any time. If a dam were made at the exit of the river from 

 the loch, I do not think the proprietors below could object, although 

 those above it might perhaps do so in the event of any portions of 

 their lands becoming flooded by the heightening of the loch waters. 



The Drummond Castle water — in a wet season a most excellent 

 reach for sport— begins a little below Crieff Bridge at the Black 

 Hole, and goes down on the south bank for about four miles, in 

 which distance are the Basket Maker, the Clods, the Corner, the 

 Wire Fence, the Temple, Lower Findal, Bridge Stream, Dornoch 

 Dam, and the Boat Hole, some being cast from the bank, while 

 others require wading trousers. 



From Dornoch Dam, Mr. G. M. Kelson on one occasion took 

 eleven fish with a small variegated sun fly of his own composing. 

 This is a pool of about two hundred yards of deep, slow-running 

 water. It was a cloudless day, and after making each cast Mr. 

 Kelson let the fly go wherever the current took it. On the following 

 day, with a breeze and a cloudy sky, he captured other five fish 

 on a two-inch Silver Doctor. The largest fish he ever got on this 

 water was 45 J lb. 



It is now so difficult for tourist anglers to obtain a fair chance 

 of sport that they are much indebted to Lord Ancaster for the 

 privilege of fishing such fine water by the payment of a moderate 

 charge made by the day, week, or month, particulars of which can 

 be had from the proprietor of the Drummond Arms Hotel at 

 Crieff. A ticket for September costs £3, one for October £7. 



The Ochtertyre water commences at Turret junction and goes 

 down for a mile. No waders are wanted. Fly is the only lure 

 allowed. The take varies from nothing at all in a dry season to 

 thirty to thirty-five fish in a wet one, averaging 12 lb., but getting 

 black in the last fortnight of the season. 



The Strathallan water commences at MiUearn Dyke and goes 

 down for two miles on both banks, exclusive of about three hundred 

 yards belonging to Innerpeffray on the north side. 



With the exception of two pools which are boated, the rest are 

 easily fished by wading trousers. , 



The water is divided by the ilachany Burn into upper and 

 lower beats On the former there are only two casts, and the 

 latter is much the best section, on which the first pool is caUed 

 "The Gurl" fished from the bank on the north side and waded 

 from the south ; then comes Houston's stream, upwards of three 

 hundred yards long, but which has not given up many fish for the 

 last three seasons ; next there follow in rapid succession the Bend, 

 the Pot (small but very good), the Back of the Island, and Murray s 



