THE SAIMON-MINES OF TAY. 153 



the Duke of Sutherland's fisheries, in his own county, and in 

 seven different rivers, the total number of fish captured in 1870 

 was 19,689 salmon and 29,899 grilse. These figures are quoted 

 to show the value of the salmon as rent-yielding fish. 



As has already been stated, the rental of the Tay may be 

 set down this season at £17,000. That sum is made up from 

 over 50 different " lets," and these again are divided into many 

 different fishing-stations or "shots." There are, in all, about 

 267 of these, including 50 bag and stake net stations on the 

 coast district, which extends from Bedhead in Forfarshire to 

 Fifeness in Fifeshire. Above Perth bridge there are 45 net 

 and coble stations ; on the Earn, a tributary, there are 15, 

 besides two cruives ; and from Perth to Newburgh there are no 

 less than 132 shots ; and in the estuary — that is, below the 

 town of Newburgh — there are 23. One man, Mr. Speedie of 

 Perth, is lessee of nearly half of the river, judging by the rent he 

 pays, which amounts to about £8000 per annum. The salmon 

 wealth of the river Tay is certainly found between the city of 

 Perth and the town of Newburgh, but no " laird " can say how 

 long such wealth may endure, as floods on the river frequently 

 alter its bed and change the run of the salmon, so that fisheries 

 which 30 or 40 years ago were of considerable value are to-day 

 of no value at aU. Others, again, have risen with magic 

 rapidity to be sources of considerable wealth to their owners. 

 Fishings yielding all annual rental of £250, 12 or 15 years ago, 

 do not now let for as many shillings. Such changes have 

 occurred chiefly in the estuary of the river. The chief " salmon- 

 mine " of the Tay is called the " throat of the river," a stretch 

 of water about three miles in length, which is very fruitful in 

 fish and yields a heavy rental. It is thought that the breeding 

 operations at Stormontfleld have slightly augmented the produce, 

 and, of course, the rental of the river, which about the time 

 they began was at its lowest point, the total rents in 1852 

 amounting to £7973 : 5s., and in 1853 to £8715 : 17 : 6. In 

 the next year they had increased by £500, and by £700 in the 

 following season; and in 1858, when the young fish were 

 beginning to tell on the supply, the rental had attained the 

 grand total of nearly £11,487 : 2 : 5, being an increase of over 

 £3000 per annum. 



The economy of a salmon river is as yet but dimly under- 

 stood. A time must come, however, when the " salnion lairds" 

 will co-operate each with the other, instead of doing as they do 



