of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



273 



(6) As compared with previous years, about the average. July was 

 the best month for sea trout. Spring and autumn for finnock. 

 3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 20^ lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — 10th June 1913, Pool 

 Nesich. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1913 was £473 5s. 



2. The assessment levied was 4s. 6d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 1 permanent bailiff, with 1 or more tem- 



porary assistants as may be found necessary. The arrangement with 

 the Moray Firth Salmon Fisheries Company Ld., referred to in the 

 Reports for seasons 1911 and 1912, was not continued during last 

 season. 



4. No prosecutions instituted. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect: — No change as regards obstruc- 



tions in the Alness River. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes, except at Balnagown, 



where the fish pass is not yet satisfactory. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — One fish pass has been constructed in 



the Balnagown River. 



Pollutions— 



The existing pollutions are : — There is practically no pollution within the 

 district. 



The Salmon Disease- 

 Only 1 diseased fish seen, in December. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Salmon were first noticed spawning about 20th October on the upper 



reaches. Sea trout were first noticed spawning about 10th October. 



2. The greatest number spawned about the first week of December. 



3. Spawning ceased about 20th December on the lower reaches. 



4. As regards numbers of breeding fish, and state of the water, the past 



spawning season is regarded as much below the average owing to the 

 low state of the river from the long spell of -dry weather. During 

 August and September the stock of sea trout was good. The river 

 during the spawning season was flooded. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards about the end of April, but 



most migrated in May. 



2. As a smolt year 1913 was considered fair, but it was difficult to form an 



opinion owing to the flooded state of the river. 



REPORT FROM KYLE OF SUTHERLAND DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. No information can be obtained. 



2. The catch in relation to that of former years was : — 



(a) By fixed engine 1 



(6) By sweep net r Above the average, 



(c) By rod and line J 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 37 lb. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — ^25th July, at Portma- 

 homack. 



