of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



243 



been fitted, and at the left side the drop of water over the sill is not more 

 than about six inches. The greatest flow of water goes to the right side, 

 however, and here the drop is about two feet. 



None of the doaches is now fished, but, except during dead low water 

 and in the weekly close time^ the hecks are kept in place. A crane has 

 now been erected at the big doach for the purpose of lifting out the heck 

 during high levels of river when the pressure on the bars is great. 



The net and coble shots below the doaches are : — The Linn shot, the 

 Draught shot, and Hell's Hole. The Draught shot is considered the 

 best. Hell's Hole is now fished only in high water. 



Five shots with net and coble, are, I regret to say, fished in the upper 

 river, the best shot being at Bridge of Dee. 



Six yairs are still fished in the estuary. Two of them are set to fish the 

 ebb tide, but they are said to be rather profitless, except at times when fish 

 cannot ascend the river owing to low water level. 



In the best interests of this river, and in order that the stock of fish 

 may have a chance to increase, it is most unfortunate that the oft'er made 

 by Captain Hope, of St. Mary's Isle, when he took over all the net fishings, 

 was not accepted by the upper proprietors or by any syndicate who would 

 take up the regulation of the river. Had the offer been accepted, the 

 doaches and the sweep nets would now have been done away with. Under 

 present conditions the river is certainly overfished. Pike in the upper 

 waters also need attention. 



River Baa, Isle of Mull. 



The stream which flows from Loch Baa, in Mull, had probably at one 

 time a much shorter course than now. By the great accumulation of 

 aluvium, and the action of the sea at the head of Loch na Keal, the mouth 

 of the stream has been forced more and more to the extreme north of the 

 loch end, so that it now flows for the greater part of its course parallel to 

 the sea beach. The total length is about two miles. 



The water level of Loch Baa is given as 41 feet above the sea, so that 

 the gradient of t'le stream is very easy. 



At the time of my visit, in July, the river was dead low, and on walking- 

 down to the mouth, and along the sea beach, great numbers of salmon and 

 sea trout were to be seen jumping in the salt water. Under those 

 conditions, experience elsewhere has shown that if it is possible to send 

 down an artificial flood, the waiting fish will at once begin to ascend the 

 river. It is in the smaller rivers especially that such artificial floods are 

 most beneficial, and with such views suggested to my mind, I proceeded to 

 examine the outlet of the loch as well as the nature of the ground at the 

 head of the loch. The outlet of Loch Baa I found peculiarly well adapted 

 for the construction of a retaining wall. There is a natural constriction 

 where a partial wall of unlimed stones already stands. To arrange matters 

 so that a head of two or three feet could be let down at will would not be 

 very difficult or expensive, and I ventured to point out the benefits to the 

 two proprietors whose lands meet in the medium filum at this point, and 

 who are both largely interested in the angling of the loch. At the head 

 of Loch Baa I found a glen with a very marshy floor through which the 

 head stream, coming down from very steep hills, finds its way in many 

 uncertain windings, breaking up into several small mouths at the head of 

 the loch. Except in times of flood, spawning fish will find it well-nigh im- 

 possible to ascend this stream from the loch, and a concentration of the 

 water into one channel would be of great benefit ; but if the level of Loch 

 Baa were raised, as suggested, this stream would be largely flooded, except 

 when the head of water had been run off. Such flooding would in itself 

 answer the purpose of allowing the fish up from the loch. 

 Q 



