of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



9 



for the purpose of keeping back cattle. This may be the case, but I have 

 no doulDt it serves another purpose equally well. The stream, which 

 enters at Manish, and the creek are of larger extent than is the case at 

 Stockinish. The lower of the two barriers is at a natural construction of 

 the creek. It is formed of rock masonry in the form of a short pier from 

 each side and a central pier, there being two complete apertures in the 

 dyke. I estimated the height of the structure as from six to nine feet. 

 The apertures are neatly formed, extend from top to bottom, and are a 

 foot and a half wide. They can therefore be easily stepped across, and it 

 is clear the structure is constantly used as a crossing place. Manish 

 Church is on the north side of the creek close to the dyke. The tide runs 

 through the apertures with great force. The distance from dyke to dyke 

 is about 80 yards, and the creek widens out so as to contain a large 

 amount of water. A watcher is already stationed here to prevent netting. 



Further south we come to the system of streams falling into Loch 

 Finsbay, the first of which is the Hulmasaig, flowing out of Loch 

 Huamavat, and a chain of other lochs, all of which, except Loch 

 Eogravat, contain sea trout in the autumn. At the mouth of this stream 

 is an island, and in either channel a small dyke exists. These structures 

 are again used as crossing places, but are nevertheless obstructions to the 

 ascent of fish. Since, however, they are exclusively in fresh water, suit- 

 able gaps would probably secure adequate passage. 



Amliuinn-na-Ciste — This is a narrow kyle in the upper end of Loch 

 Finsbay, having a strong current of sea water at both ebb and flood tides. 

 There is a ferry across it. In this kyle in 1890 Lord Cardross, fishing 

 with ordinary sea trout flies, caught 90 fish in a few hours. The stream 

 flowing into the head of the channel drains a chain of six lochs, but these 

 have unfortunately become so overgrown with weeds as to render angling 

 almost impossible. The stream has a fall upon it which I was unable to 

 visit, but which I understand is not very formidable. 



The other sea trout lochs of the east side of South Harris and the very 

 numerous brown trout lochs need not be specially mentioned here. 



Ohe. — At this famous fishing the principal features are a large fresh 

 water loch close to a large salt water channel. The sheet of fresh water 

 is called Loch Steisevat, and in attempting to improve or control the 

 fishing the outlet of this loch has been altered more than once, artificial 

 channels to the salt water, which were sluiced, having been formed. 

 These are now, however, closed up, and a natural run of water passes out 

 of the loch at its south-eastern extremity into what is termed the Mill 

 Pool, and from this to the large salt water channel. The Mill Pool is a 

 shallow basin in which at ordinary tides the water rises about eighteen 

 inches. Spring tides freely fill it, and neap tides do not reach it. Con- 

 siderable sport is obtained here in March and April. The Rodel keeper 

 informs me that the great majority of the fish then caught are finnock or 

 herling, but that amongst them are sea trout of 2, 3, 4, and even 

 up to 8 lbs. Between 600 and 700 fish, I am told, may be expected here 

 in spring. 



The salt water channel lower down yields the chief fishing of summer 

 and autumn. I am informed that 1000 to 1200 sea trout and about 70 

 salmon are expected each season at Obe. The salmon are mostly small, 

 not exceeding 9 or 10 lbs., and the majority are believed by the keeper to 

 be grilse. A point of interest is this, that fish do not take the fly freely 

 in the salt water when much fresh water is coming down from Loch 

 Steisevat, and at such times fishing is principally carried on in the fresh 

 water loch. A weedy channel about three-quarters of a mile long con- 

 nects Loch Steisevat with another loch of considerable size called Loch- 

 na-Morach, and as the season advances this latter loch is said also to yield 

 capital sport. 



