CHAPTER L XXIII 



THE NITH 



Ranks in point of size as one of the largest of the second-class 

 salmon rivers of Scotland, but as it is one of the very worst treated, 

 it is, perhaps, not surprising that its salmon fisheries are among 

 the least productive. It drains four hundred and thirty-five square 

 miles of moorland and low country, and rising in Ayrshire, not far 

 from Dalmellington, after a course of fifty miles, in which it receives 

 many tributaries, it enters the Solway three miles below the town 

 of Dumfries. As it nears the sea the Cluden water joins on the right 

 bank, which salmon ascend in numbers until their further progress 

 is barred by the Rocks of Cluden, some four miles above the junction 

 with the Nith. 



The pool below the rocks is fished by a net fastened between 

 two long poles, which elsewhere I have heard called a " poke " or 

 " clap " net. There is a man to each pole and, holding the net 

 partially taut, they thrust it into every corner of the pool. As the 

 fish see it, they dash out of the pool into the net, in which there is a 

 pocket to receive them. The men can feel the fish strike the net, 

 and raise it at once, bringing the poles as near together as they can. 

 With this net, from this one pool, 400 fish were taken in the season 

 of 1881, fifty-six being the best day. 



Now, some forty years ago, I have often helped to work a 

 similar net on a more northern river. We did it, perhaps, once or 

 twice in a remote glen, before the netting season was ended, and only 

 with a view of getting a fish or two for the house. But on each 

 occasion we sent a keeper above and another below to warn us of 

 the advent of the water bailiff, for we all thought we were poaching, 

 and it was not until some years later that the open working of this 

 sort of net on the Cluden told me our conclusions were erroneous. 

 Well ! if this style of fishing isn't poachmg — it ought to be! 



The Nith is one of the latest of the Scotch rivers, fish seldom 

 coming into it before May or June. Nevertheless, it opens on the 

 25th of February, closing for nets on the loth of September, and for 

 rods on the 14th of November — oddly enough, one day earlier than 

 the Annan close by. I am not the only one who wonders why ! 



A striking proof of this lateness was afforded on the 8th of 

 December 1883, when a considerable portion of the lower water 

 was netted to get a supply of ova for Mr. Armistead's hatchery. 

 The result was but one hen fish ready to spawn, and she was put 



