of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



57 



based, become more apparent and project down stream a short distance, 

 so as to reduce the height to from 3^ to 4 feet. At this point during 

 floods fish might probably ascend, even when the tide is out, but the 

 main channel is on the opposite side of an island, which is situated 

 below the weir. The main channel leads up to the cruive. The ascent 

 of fish, however, is only possible at high tide as a rule, and then it is 

 comparatively easy. A meal mill is situated on the right bank opposite 

 the cruive box. The tail-lade enters the river just below the cruive 

 dyke at its extreme right. The intake is not influenced by the weir on 

 which the cruive is situated, but by a smaller dyke largely composed 

 of natural ledges of rock. This structure is about 150 yards above 

 the cruive, and does not materially influence the flow of the river. 

 Netting is carried on above the mill dam and below the cruive dam, 

 where, between the island and the left bank, a large pool exits. 



In order that a proper view of the cruive may be obtained, it is 

 necessary to visit the locality while the river is unaffected by tide. To 

 remark this is tantamount to a statement that the Craigforth cruive 

 seems to be situated where, to use the expression of the old Acts which 

 govern the legal situation of cruives, " the sea fillis and ebbis," and 

 where in terms of these Acts (Robert I., 1318, c. 12 ; James I., 1424, 

 c. 11 ; James [II., 1477, c. 7o) no cruive should remain. The clause 

 of the last-mentioned Act reads as follows: — "That the Act maid of 

 before, be King James I., anent cruives set in waters be observed and 

 keiped. The quhilk beires in effect that all cruives set in waters, quhair 

 the sea fillis and ebbis, destroyis the frye of all fisches, be put away and 

 destroyed for ever mair, notwithstanding any freedom or priviledge 

 given in the contra ir ..." I find, by consulting the tide tables, 

 that at Stirling the time of high water is 1 hour 22 minutes later than 

 at Leith, and that a rise of 7| feet is set down as that of spring tides in 

 this locality. The Craigforth cruive is fully two miles by the river 

 above the bridge at Stirling, and is no doubt subject to a rise of less 

 than 7| feet, yet on inquiry I am informed that spring tides rise to 

 within a foot of the top of the dam-dyke, and that if the blinds of the 

 cruive be shut clown, so that practically no water passes through the 

 box from above, the cruive box is filled up with water from below, by 

 the action of the rising tide. 



I would therefore venture to draw the attention of the Board to tho 

 conditions under which the Craigforth cruive exists. 



