of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



Iv 



about the low level of the two West Coast lines. Since 1907 they 

 have been in close proximity, and now the line representing the fish 

 sent to market from the group of districts between Glasgow and the 

 river Annan has reached a lower level than ever previously. When 

 the details are regarded, it is seen that while there is a drop at Ayr 

 and a drop at Stranraer, the reduction is for the most part due to a 

 decrease of fish in the Sol way, more especially from the Cree, Nith, 

 and Annan districts. 



It is impossible to secure absolute accuracy in making these re- 

 turns, since we are not furnished with reports of the numbers of fish 

 captured, and have to rely upon the courtesy of the railway and 

 steamship companies for such information as we are able to secure of 

 the weight of salmon carried to market. 



A return as to weight of salmon is valuable, but in districts where 

 grilse, rather than large adult salmon, form the bulk of the catch, a 

 very inadequate estimate of the state of matters is given by returns 

 of weight alone. It has been pointed out by the Inspector of Salmon 

 Fisheries that in certain districts, notably in the Pentland Firth, 7 

 or 8 grilse are commonly taken for every salmon, and that in good 

 grilse years 12 or even 13 grilse may be so taken. But these fish 

 being of light weight, it is evident that a great increase or decrease 

 of numbers may obtain without this being materially shown in the 

 weight of fish reported as having been sent to market. Further, 

 as the Inspector has shown, the rate of decline seems to be much 

 greater amongst grilse than amongst salmon, and, when we reflect 

 upon this it seems evident that, since these young fish are the pro- 

 vision for the immediate future, a depreciation may be steady and 

 very considerable without our being in a position to mark it with 

 accuracy. 



We have repeatedly urged the need of regular statistics of the 

 salmon catch, and this recommendation was also urged by the 

 Royal Commission on Salmon Fisheries, 1902, who state in their 

 Report (p. 16) : " We think this is a case where the public 

 advantage ought to outweigh the private objection, and that 

 powers should be given to the Central Authority in England and 

 Scotland respectively to obtain statistics by methods already 

 adopted for other purposes of Government, by which inquisi- 

 torial treatment and unnecessary publication are avoided." 



There are 107 Salmon Fishery Districts in Scotland, including the 

 Orkney and Shetland, and the small and relatively numerous catch- 

 ment basins of the Hebridean Islands. Of these there are 41 provided 

 with Boards for the regulation and protection of salmon fisheries. 

 The salmon fishery rentals of these 41 districts may be stated as 

 fully £145,000. The rentals of the five most important districts are 

 given in the following table : — 



[Table. 



