286 



THE SALMON RH^RS OF SCOTLAND 



and'i'.tnn?^ l°?^f ?l^'^y ^ 1"^'^^'^'^ °^ ^ '"lie, good at all times 

 andseasons while both banks are owed by the estate. 

 ^rh. V^ followed by Neil's Pool, better formerly than it is now 

 where the opposite bank is again Breadalbane property 



rhen comes Bolfracks, best fished from a boat, but a good 

 cast especially at the beginnmg of the season. 



i<ollowing come Balhomais and Farlever, the former a short 

 cast, the latter a good long one, and here again both banks are 

 Menzies property. 



_ Then foUows Dunskiag, a big pool, which must be haded and 

 IS succeeded by the Island, Tay Bridge, and Weem Park. 



Prior to i860 all this fine water used to be good fishing, while 

 between the pools there are capital spawning grounds. In those 

 days the average take of salmon for the Castle use, helped by an 

 occasional dip of the net, was about 150, and once the Carrie gave 

 an angler eight salmon before breakfast . 



Since 1862 the fishing has fallen off, for in that year an alteration 

 was made in the weekly close time, which enabled the netting 

 stations between Perth Bridge and Stanley to catch nearly all the 

 fish. 



Most of these pools can be cast from the banks, and hereabouts 

 the best flies are Blue Doctor, Jock Scot, and Butcher ; but when 

 the river is large, natural and artificial minnows both kill, though 

 the prawn is of but little use. 



When Castle Menzies is let, this stretch of water always goes 

 with it. It ends just above Aberfeldy, while Lord Breadalbane 

 continues on the opposite bank for about a mile further. 



Angling has fallen off very much, and now but from ten to 

 fifteen fish are got in the season, averaging 18 lb. It is, however, 

 hoped that if the netting above Perth ceases, as there is a prospect 

 of its doing, then the whole Tay will be as full of fish as the Aber- 

 deenshire Dee. 



In that event it would certainly rank, as it ought to, as the 

 premier river of Scotland ; for whereas the spring fish of the Dee 

 do not average more than 10 lb., those of the Tay would be 18 lb. ; 

 and if these big fellows were to be caught in the same numbers as 

 the smaller ones of the Dee, then the Tay angling would become of 

 extraordinary value. 



As that good sportsman, the late Sir Robert Menzies — so famed 

 for his feats of endurance, and on whom advancing years appeared 

 to have little or no effect — was a warm advocate of the scheme, and 

 as he had been a member of the Tay Board ever since its formation, 

 the matter had every chance of going through, especially as he is 

 strongly backed by the proprietors above Campsie Linn. 



As the Breadalbane property ends, the GrandtuUy estate of 

 Lady Douglas Stewart begins, and goes down for some six miles 

 on this south side of the river. Opposite to it are the properties 

 of Killiechassie, Cluny, and Edradynate ; Derculich, with its pretty 

 house and many bathrooms ; Clochfoldich, Findynate, Pitcastle, 



