March 25, 1893] 
THE EISKING GAZETTE 
223 
191b.; Mr. Frances, two, 101b.. 101b. ; on 20bh, two, 201b., 
181b.; 2l8t, one, 151b.; 18th, Visconnt Combermere one, 
141b.: 20tli, Albert Smith one, 221b. ; on 21st, one, 
191b.; on 20th, Mr. Fraser, one, 281b. ; 21st, one, 201b. ; 
Mr. Andrew Smith, one, 201b. ICillin. 
Naver (Bettyhill, via Thurso, N.B.). —On 
Saturday week, Mr. Pyne, fishing from the Hotel, 
caught two salmon weighing 91b. and lOlb. on beat No. 0, 
and Mr. Maccance a 20-pounder on beat No. 4. On 
Monday, Mr. Richardson, Syre Lodge, caught a 101b. 
salmon on beat No. 3; Mr. Tomlinson, Syro Lodge, two 
salmon, of 101b. and 121b., on No. 2; Mr. Maccance, 
Bettyhill Hotel, three, weighing 101b., 91b., and 81b., on 
beat No. 5; and Mr. Delasalle, Bettyhill Hotel, two, of 
(lib. and 91b., on No. 4. On Tuesday, Mr. Maccance and 
Mr. Delasalle grassed a 10-pounder each ; Mr. Pyne, one 
of 71b. ; and Mr. Simpson one of 91b. On Wednesday 
the weather was so stormy, with heavy galea, snow, &c., 
that anglers could not venture out. Thursday was also 
a boisterous day, nevertheless Mr. Simpson, Bettyhill 
Hotel, landed three salmon, weighing 71b., 91b., and 
81b. On Friday, Mr. Delasalle canght the heaviest fish 
landed on the river this season — it weighs 241b.—and 
another weighing Sib., both on beat No. 2 ; and Mr. 
Simpson, one of 91b. on beat No. 4. Total for the week, 
nineteen salmon aggregating 2201b., or an average of 
over 11 Jib.—McB. 
Oich River (Captain Ind’s water). Fort Augustus.— 
On Monday, Mr. Moore landed a 9-pounder. This is the 
first to this gentleman’s rod on this water this season. 
River gradually lowering.—H ison. 
Oykel (via Lairg, N.B.). —The whole of the 
past week was so stormy that the river was not fished 
except on Monday, when the Langwell water yielded one 
salmon of 6Ub. on Rock Pool, and one of 5Jlb. on 
Narrows. This week weather beautiful and prospects 
good. — McB. 
South of Scotland. —The genial change in the 
weather in the South of Scotland this week has brought 
about considerable improvement in the angling. The 
warm and bright sunshine caused a hatch of March 
Brown Ply on Monday, and trout took the artificial fly 
well. Tuesday and Wednesday were quite like summer ; 
indeed, we had few such fine days last summer as we are 
now having in this part of the country.— The Annan. — 
On Monday, in the Northfield water, Mr. Wm. Wallas, 
gunmaker, Wigton, had a splendid basket of trout with 
March Brown and Black Spider Ply ; Mr. Wallas killed 
sixteen, weighing from IJlb. to ilb. On Tuesday and 
to-day (Wednesday) he had good sport, but not quite 
e(iual to that of Monday. Mr. Peter London, Annan, 
killed in Violet Bank stream ten trout (yellows), 
all nice fish. Mr. London found the Silver Grey 
Spider and Silver Body the most killing fly, and he had 
a few with March Brown. On Tuesday he was again 
successful in killing some five oissix trout with Hare Lug. 
Mr. McGiverin, postmaster, Annan, killed, in an hour, 
in the Brewery stream, on Monday night, half a dozen 
yellow trout, one of which was a fine trout in capital 
order. These fish were caught with March Brown and 
Hare’s Ear. Mr. Robert Dixon, baker, canght half a 
dozen in the stream below Annan Bridge. Mr. Thomson 
and Mr. Nicholson, North Wales, had fair sport in the 
lower waters. Mr. John Rae, Bridge Place, hooked a 
salmon in Craigdale, but lost it after half an hour’s 
play. The same angler had half a dozen yellow trout, 
with Hare Lug. Mr. Dame London killed in the Brewery 
pool on Tuesday six yellow trout, all nice fish, and Mr. 
Alex London caught five with March Brown. Mr. 
Law, Glasgow, had a few, and another angler four trout. 
In the higher waters, Mr. Bell was reported as having 
landed a fish of 111b. ; in the Greonhill water, Mr. Fair- 
bairn, Glasgow, a new fish, of 81b., and Mr. A. John¬ 
stone Moffat a few nice yellow trout, weighing up to Jib. 
each. The river is getting too clear for salmon fishing. 
In the lower pools a large number of kelt salmon are to 
seen making their way slowly to the Solway. — The 
Nith. —The Dumfries Nith is not affording much 
sport so far, although I hear of a few nice 
yellow trout being killed in the middle waters. 
In the Thornhill portion yellow trout have been rising 
fairly well in the evenings this week, but salmon fishing 
is at a standstill owing to the clear state of the water.- — 
The Galloway Rivers. —The reports from the Gallo¬ 
way rivers are all quiet in tone, and little has been 
done of late. Yellow trout are reported to be getting 
into splendid order, and Easter anglers are looking for¬ 
ward to having a happy time of it. I am sorr 3 ' to report 
that the salmon disease appears to be making headway 
in all the district rivers, but new spring fish are not so 
liable to the fungus. Ttie disease appears to be more 
among the spawned salmon. A number of salmon 
poachers were before the sheriff last week end, and were 
heavily fined.— Heathebbell. 
Spey (Morayshire). —Sport for the week up to 
Wednesday last was better than it has been since the 
season opened, but is still very far short of what it 
should be. High westerly winds, assuming, in fact, at 
times the fury of a gale, have been the ruling feature of 
the weather, so that a cast was only possible in the 
more sheltered sections of the river. With an absence 
of this, and a more uniform size of water sport would 
have been much more satisfactory, as there is, I am 
glad to say, every evidence of a good head of fish 
having got up during the recent semi-flood. Kelts, 
although still troublesome, all migrating seawards 
quickly. Sport last week was best on the reaches 
between Aberlour and Blacksboat, which as a rule fish 
best from early in April to the middle of May. In the 
reaches below Aberlour to just above the Duke’s 
netting at Orton, thefi.shing at this period of the season 
is usually good, but up to the present it has been the 
reverse. In a measure this may be attributed to the 
quantity of snow water still coming down, which pre¬ 
vents fish from rising to the fly. This is apparent from 
the fact that sport last week was nothing to what it 
ought to have been with the fresh run of fish in the 
water. In more than one instance the fl.y was discarded 
for the artificial minnow, which proved deadly where the 
fly had failed. On this day week, on the Pitcroy 
waters, belonging to Mr. C. M. P. Bruce, his fisherman, 
Mr. Duan, killed two, weighing 71b. and 111b. ; and on 
the Knockando water, Mr. Falkner killed three on 
Friday (lObh), weighing Gib., 61b., and 191b , the latter a 
beauty; while from the Laggan water on Thursday, 
Colonel Smith, Minmore, and party, landed two, of 8lh. 
and 181b., the latter also a fine fish. From the Carron 
Lodge water, on the 10th inst.. Sir William Gordon- 
Cumming, of Altyre, grassed one of 151b. ; on the 
day following, one of 81b. ; and on the Knockando 
water, Mr. Falkner, one, of 61b., on Monday. On 
this day week, from Mr. Stewart-Menzie’s, of Cul- 
dares, water at Aikenways, Major Grant, of Glen- 
grant, landed two scaling 81b. each, and on Monday, 
another of the same weight ; and Captain Mao- 
lennan. Fort George, one of 101b. : Mr. Falkner, on 
Monday, killed one of 81b. on his water at Knockando : 
and on Tuesday, Colonel Smith, one of the same 
weight on his Laggan water. The weather continues 
very unfavourable for the net fishing on the coast, the 
Duke’s fishermen having only been ab sea three or four 
times. The average weight of the fish netted was 61b., 
and heaviest 181b. The water on Wednesday was in 
fine volume, but the wind was as high as ever. Should 
it fall prospects would be brighter.— J. M. 
Later. —In an able article in the Gazette on spring 
salmon fishings b.v “ Mac,” he says, the Spey, over the 
largest extent of its course, usually fishes best in 
March and April. This is so, and when I say that the 
number of fish caught by rod on any one reach this 
season could be counted on one’s fingers, some idea may 
be gained of the failui’e of the spring rod-fishing up to 
the present time. When writing last week prospects 
looked brighter, but, such is the changeableness of the 
weather that within twenty-four hours thereafter wo were 
launched back into mid-winter (.see “ Scotch Notes ”) and 
the outlook darker than ever. Ever since the water has 
been at times badly coloured, and is still in a sort of 
semi-flood with the large quantity of snow-water coming 
down, consequent on the extreme mildness of the weather 
now being experienced. Combined with frost at night 
and bright sunshine during the day, little wonder it is, 
as a rule, all lures proved ineffectual, and that the 
larger rods and flies were abandoned for the trout 
rod and smaller flies, with the result that a few finnock 
were landed. It may also be the case that owing to the 
intensely cold nature of the water the fish are not 
travelling so quickly as they would otherwise do, and 
thereby fall a prey to the netters. Such is the present 
state of matters, and what the prospects for the next 
week are it is difficult to predict. The weather, however, 
when writing was delightful. Apropos of the trout¬ 
fishing dispute, a correspondent remarks that he fails to 
see what possible harm could be done to salmon-fishing 
by legitimate trout-fishing, say with a rod twelve or 
fourteen feet long, and the finest of tackle. On Thurs¬ 
day, on the Eastern Elchies water, Mr. McKinnon, Lord 
Elgin’s gamekeeper, killed a salmon of 71b. ; and on 
Friday, from the Pitcroy Lodge water, Mr. C. M. P. 
Burn landed one of similar weight. The salmon-fishing 
on the coast has again been very jioor, owing to the 
stormy weather during part of the week. The 
fish, as a rule, were of light weight, with the ex- 
exception of two, weighing 28Jlh. and 331b. 
respectively. Prom Lossiemouth, a friend of mine 
writes that a large number of the fisher people are 
almost starving, owing to the exceptionally poor fishing 
they have had this winter, and to crown all the harbour 
is to be closed at the end of April, to enable the 
entrance to be deepened, a step which will add to the 
present state of misery.—.1. M. 
Tay (Perth). —The river has kept pretty steady 
during the week and sport has been fairly good. Trout 
are beginning to show themselves now, taking down the 
March Browns which come on on favourable days. 
On the Castle Menzies water Lord Strathallan killed 
two fish on Friday, 341b. and 201b. ; and Miss Drum¬ 
mond killed one of 01b. on the Stanley water. One was 
got on the Taymount water by the keeper, Mr. 
McIntosh. On the Birnam Hotel water Gen. Owen 
Williams killed one of 201b., and on Saturday one of 
181b. Mr. Mowat killed two on Stobhall wat-r, 
161b. and 101b. A fish was got on the Scone Palace 
water by the boatmen. On the Grandtully water Miss 
McPherson killed a fish of 301b., and one of 231b. was 
got by Mr. Roy, the keeper, on the Dalguise water on 
'Tuesday. On Wednesday Miss Drummond killed three 
fish on the Redgoston water, 201b., 71b., and 51b. 
Mr. Hunter had five whitling on the free water on 
Saturday. Tummel: Mr. McNaughton killed a fish of 
331b. on the Bonstreed water. 
Thurso and Lochmore (Brawl Castle). —A good 
thaw set in on Sunday, and by Monday morning the 
most of the snow had disappeared. The river rose about 
2ft. ; by Monday afternoon it was running a nice clear 
colour. Lochmore was also pretty high. One rod tried 
the loch on Monday, and killed two fine fish, the 
heaviest 191b. One rod tried it again on Tuesday, and 
killed four, the heaviest 191b. On Monday, No. 8 beat 
(the Linn) gave five fish, the heaviest 221b. ; No. 6 gave 
one, with tide lice on it. On Tuesday No. 8 beat gave 
two fish, and No. 6 gave one fresh run fish. The river 
is in tip-top trim, and, as a fresh lot of fish have come 
up, good sport may be expected for the next few days. 
The most of the earlier run are in Lochmore, and should 
the anglers elect to fish there instead of the river beats, 
success is pretty certain. The Thurso Canary is the 
best killing fly, but should the weather continue fine 
some of the standard patterns, such as Stevenson, 
Parson Wilkinson, Popham, &c., will be used. Later. —■ 
Several fish were seen passing Brawl this evening, but 
they would not look at the fly.—A. H. 
Tweed. —The weather during the past week has been 
too bright, and the atmosphere too frosty, to allow of sue* 
cessful salmon angling to any extent, and the captures 
made have been exceedingly few. The long spell of hard 
dry weather at this season of the year has caused all 
the rivers in the Tweedside to run in very small, and 
the gauge at Kelso Bridge marks the river at a very low 
ebb. In fact it is lower at the present time than we 
ever remember seeing it at the same period in any 
former season for some years back. During the sunny 
hours of the day the common trout are to be seen rising, 
and a few small baskets have already been got with the 
fly, but the cold March winds are militating much 
against this sort of sport. Since last report, 
and up to the present time (Wednesday), we 
have only heard of two or three salmon having 
been got on the angling water on the Tweed. On the 
21st inst., on the Floors Castle upper waters, Mr. 
Charles Perkins, the lessee, killed three fine spring 
salmon, weighing respectively 71b., 91b., and 101b. On 
the Teviot, however, on Thursday last, Mr. Adam 
Elliot, Caverton, had a capital day, killing no fewer than 
four fish. These consisted of two nice clean salmon of 
8Jib. and 4.Jlb. respectively, a grilse of 41b., and a sea- 
trout. Previous to this he had two salmon, of 71b. and 
81b. Last season, on the same river, this gentleman 
killed five fish in one day, and, curious to relate, the 
date of these captures was only a few days later than 
those above mentioned. Th^'re seems to be a great 
scarcity of clean run spring fish all over the middle and 
lower reaches, and this is the more strangle seeing the 
splendid opportuuities fish had to ascend the rivers 
some time back. Diseased fish are also seen now and 
again in both Tweed and 'I’eviot, but not to such an 
extent as during last spring. 'The net fishings on the 
coast and on the river stations are also miserably poor, 
and a good flood—of which, however, there seems little 
prospect at present—is sadly wanted to improve fishing 
all round.— Maxwheel. 
Irish Reports. 
Ballinderry. —The water is falling low again. The 
snow broth in the stream towards the close of last week 
affected the rising of the trout. Since the snow water 
cleared away, the weather has been bright in the day 
time with chilling frosts at night. I have details of a 
good many baskets, none of which exceed more than 
half-a-dozen small fish. Plenty of rain is required. 'The 
taking flies are March Brown and Cowdung. 
Blackwater (co. Tyrone). — Since the season 
opened, the 16th inst., scarcely anything has been done, 
the weather being very unfavourable. The water is at 
a nice height, but the presence of snow broth is sup¬ 
posed ro have rendered the trout sulky. On Monday, 
Mr. John Mills, Benburb, killed a brace of three-quarter 
pounders, and lost several good fish. 
Boyne (Navan). —River getting very low and 
bright, owing to the continuation of white frosts and 
clear, calm days. Very few fish were got last week in 
consequence, and blank days were the rule. Mrs. Laing 
and friends, staying at the Russel Arms, had a few, 
and Capt. Cunlift'e also got some. Yesterday Mr. F. H. 
Woodroffe had a very nice fish of 171b. on the lower 
Black Castle water. Weather still very bright.— Blue 
Hackle. 
Bundrowes River and Lougch Melvin. —Heavy 
snowstorms all through the past week, and fishing at a 
standstill. Mr. A. Scott, fishing Lough Melvin, killed 
two trout (ferox) 81b. and 51b., and lost a salmon same 
day.—M. Rogan and Sons. 
Crossgar (co. Down). —Since my last report, 
nothing out of the ordinary has occurred on this water. 
The Kilmore reaches this week were w'ell frequented by 
local sportsmen and anglers from Belfast, but the bags 
made are not worth recording. All over this county a 
miserable start has been made this season.—J. H. B. 
Zion^li Currane (Waterville, co. Kerry).— 
Sport continues abnormally poor. During the past 
week Colonel F. Rogers has had four salmon: 121b., 
111b., 111b., and 101b.; and M. Healy, one, 121b. On a 
couple of days the weather was rather wild, but on 
the whole it has been favourable enough, and it is 
strange that sport has not been better as the salmon 
are reported to be numerous on the principal angling 
courses.— 'Thos. J. Denneht. 
Loug'h. Neagh.. —Since the trout-netting season 
opened the fishers have done well, and lake trout up to 
151b. were taken on the Antrim shores. Pollen are 
getting more plentiful, but a great traffic in undersized 
fish is being carried on. A few nights ago a party of 
bailiffs surprised three or four boats which had just 
landed on her 'Tyrone shores, and seized some hundreds 
of pollan below eight inches in length. Prosecutions 
against the fishers have been instituted.—J. H. B. 
Mourne and. Strule (Co. Tyrone). — The angling 
season opens on this favourite river on April 1. During 
the greater part of the past close season the river and 
its tributaries have been in flood, and, judging from 
indications all round, a good start may be expected. 
Trout appear plentiful on the reaches in the vicinity 
below Newtonstewart and on up the river to Omagh. 
For visitors intending to patronise this river, I know of 
no better flies manufactured by White, of Omagh, and. 
