12 



Appendices to Twenty-sixth Annual Report 



Ness or Loch Tay or other large and deep lochs through which 

 salmon pass early to their natural spawning grounds. For this 

 reason the pass erected at considerable expense at Mucomer has 

 never been a complete success. Those who fish the lower Lochy 

 grumble that it takes a proportion of their summer and autumn 

 fish away ; it certainly has not recreated any sport or value in 

 Loch Lochy, and it allows only a moderate number of fish to reach the 

 best spawning grounds in all the upper waters of the district — 

 the Pean and Dessary above Loch Arkaig. 



If it were desired to create good angling for salmon in Loch 

 Lochy, the river Arkaig, and Loch Arkaig, the pass would have to 

 be so modified as to allow a very easy gradient for the ascent of 

 spring fish, or else an entirely new pass of very easy gradient 

 would have to be constructed. I would consider a pass 400 feet in 

 length, thus giving a gradient of 1 in 25, as suitable to meet the 

 conditions. I have several times examined Mucomer during the 

 past season, and I consider it is quite practicable to create a pass 

 of the gradient suggested. With such a pass I would not hesitate 

 to state that spring salmon fishing in Loch Lochy and the lower 

 Arkaig would result, and this would undoubtedly be a new and 

 valuable asset to the fisheries of the district. How soon the fish 

 would find their way into Loch Arkaig would depend upon the 

 spring water temperature. The rise from the one loch to the 

 other is 47 feet, and the distance is barely a mile. The one abrupt 

 descent occurs just above Achnacarry House, where a view from 

 the south or right bank shows a fall of considerable magnitude, and 

 certainly of great beauty. Two wooded islands separate the waters 

 at this point, the island nearest the north or left bank being of 

 some length. When the river is viewed from the north side, it is 

 seen that a natural channel or pass is formed by the stream 

 beyond the larger island, so that a comparatively easy passage is 

 already secured to the fish. 



I am quite well aware that those who habitually fish Mucomer 

 Pool and the river just below will regard any proposal to open up 

 Mucomer Pall with disfavour. In their view the fish are more 

 valuable in Mucomer Pool than in Loch Lochy or the river 

 Arkaig. To put the matter shortly, the project would in their 

 view ruin the best pool in the Lochy and very largely spoil the 

 Spean above. I admit there is considerable force in the argument. 

 The object of a good pass at Mucomer would be to get spring fish 

 up, fish which at present congregate in Mucomer Pool and after- 

 wards ascend the Spean. In my view the question is purely one 

 as to the best interest of the district as a whole. I would present 

 these arguments for the consideration, it may be, of those who are 

 at present opposed to any change : — 



(a) The fish which lie long in Mucomer Pool are not the best 



taking fish; their absence would probably make little 

 difference to the angler. 



(b) The best of passes will still form only a makeshift for a 



river of easy gradient, and a certain check to early fish 

 would still result. 



