THE DEE 117 



but the grilse began steadily to fall off, and I fear they are falling 

 off still. Last season (1908), as everyone knows, was distinctly poor 

 from the angler's point of view, yet from the figures I have obtained 

 it would appear that the total for the river must have been well 

 over 3000 fish. 



As in the case of the rods so in the case of the nets ; the opera- 

 tions of the Improvement Association proved a distinct benefit 

 although naturally a benefit less marked in degree. The Marquis of 

 Huntly gave the following rentals in evidence before Lord Elgin's 

 Commission : 



Year. 



1872 



1882 



1892 - , 



1900 - - 



I am indebted to the Aberdeen Harbour Commission for a state- 

 ment of the number of fish caught in their nets, from which I quote 

 the quinquennial totals : 



Period. Salmon. Grilse. 



1874-1878 - 6132 6234 



1879-1883 - 4872 9072 



1884-1888 - 5877 11718 



1889-1893 - 7514 9346 



Period. Salmon. Grilse. 



1894-1898 - 6160 8137 



1899-1903 - 4377 6157 



1904-1908 - 4141 4696 



The period of the great grilse run is indicated in the third line, 

 while on the fourth line the salmon column reflects the abundance 

 of the five years preceding. 



The fact that the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners, proprietors 

 of all the valuable net fishings now remaining, have for many years 

 subscribed to the funds of the Association referred to, is sufficient 

 proof that they consider the operations as in their interest. 



With regard to the estuary of the Dee, a rather peculiar position 

 has come about. According to the schedule of the 1868 Salmon Act 

 the estuary is defined as " A portion of a circle of 400 yards radius 

 to be drawn from a centre placed midway between the outermost 

 point of the north pier and the outermost point of the breakwater, 

 and continued shorewards by tangents to the circle drawn to the 

 nearest points of the shore of the respective sides of the river at 

 high-water mark of equinoctial spring tides." This definition did not 

 take into account the possibility of any extension of the harbour 

 works ; the peculiarity of the position has arisen by operations of 

 this kind. About 1870 the Harbour Commissioners extended the 



