THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 33 



they make for the Ballater district, and are often 

 found as high up as Braemar on the opening day of 

 the rod fishing. I may, however, mention that there 

 are no obstructions in the Dee. 



Now take the Tay, into which clean fish run 

 all through the year, more or fewer, according to the 

 results of the netting operations in the tideway. 

 When the netting season terminates all the salmon 

 move upwards, and have a free passage all the 

 way to Loch Tay, into which they continue to run 

 so long as the weather is favourable. But directly 

 frost and snow set in, all the fish which have left the 

 tideway remain in the lower pools until the weather 

 becomes milder. In winter and early spring the 

 temperature of the water in this Loch is several 

 degrees warmer than it is in the Lyon which joins the 

 Tay a little below Taymouth Castle, whilst the water 

 in the Lyon is warmer than it is in the Loch during 

 the summer months. For this reason, salmon do not 

 patronize the Lyon nor other tributaries in winter 

 and early spring, but run into Loch Tay. When 



D 



