284 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



But this is a digression, so let me return to the river, which, 

 as it leaves the castle grounds, is joined by the Lyon, flowing from 

 the loch of the same name on the borders of ArgyU, some forty 

 miles to the west of the confluence. To the Meggernie Castle 

 estate belongs the first twelve mUes, from Loch Lyon to Meggernie 

 or Balgie Bridge, in which distance there are many fine pools and 

 streams, all holding fish after the end of May, and from most of 

 them have I had captives in the happy days spent at Meggernie 

 with the late Mr. Herbert Wood, prior to his purchasing the island 

 of Raasay. 



Three mUes above the bridge and one above the castle are 

 the Falls of Gallan, and from below them, down to the Bridge Pool, 

 is the best of the Meggernie water, which in August and September 

 will often yield a good many fish ; hundreds could be netted, but 

 the owner of Meggernie generously does not exercise his right. 

 These Gallan Falls are a series of pots, one on the top of the other, 

 and the fish have to work hard to ascend them. When they arrive 

 at the foot of the falls, just as the water begins to subside after a 

 spate, their difficulties are increased, and most of them pack up 

 into these pots, there to wait for a fresh rainfall. 



I remember once, when at Meggernie during an August drought, 

 some of us were commandeered by our hostess to get a fish for the 

 house ; so after every device with the rod had been tried in vain, 

 determined not to return empty-handed, we sent the keeper for his 

 " clap net," ^ and out of the very first pot we searched with it we 

 got four fish. As this was more than we wanted, someone suggested 

 we should confine the other three in a small stream flowing from the 

 top of the falls and joining the river below. Wire netting was sent 

 for, and we made a fine dam at the top and bottom of the narrow 

 channel, and, after fixing the wire barrier effectually across it, 

 we turned the other three in. As it seemed absolutely secure, 

 we thought we might as well increase the stock, and so make a 

 preserve of salmon to be always ready for the table. Then once 

 more to work we went with the net, and in a short time over two 

 dozen fish were safely imprisoned. 



All went well for a week, during which the chef dished up 

 salmon in all sorts of ways, when down came a great spate, 

 and the next day our preserve was empty ! Our host said it 

 served us right, so we had to console ourselves with assurances 

 from our hostess that she herself was far from taking that view 

 of the disaster. 



Below Balgie Bridge begins the Innerwick angling, which 

 with the shootings was rented for many years by Mr. J. F. 

 Underwood, and it is to his son that I am indebted for the excellent 

 photographs of this river. The Innerwick water, passing Roro 

 Bridge, goes down for five miles, but the last mile and a half is only 

 good for fronting. Before, however, this is reached there are eleven 

 nice pools, viz. Balgie, Lsland, Minister's, Upper, Middle, and Lower 



1 See chapter on " The Dee of Kirkcudbrightshire," p. 24S. 



