TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 



LORD PENTLAND, 



His Majesty s Secretary for Scotland. 



Office of the Fishery Board 

 for Scotland, 

 Edinburgh, May, 1909. 



My Lord,. 



In continuation of our Twenty-seventh Annual Report, 

 we have the honour to submit — 



PART II. — REPORT ON SALMON FISHERIES 



We have again to report a decline in the total weight of salmon 

 sent to market as shown by the return of salmon carried by the 

 railways and steamships of the country. Last year the total was 

 104 tons short of the total for 1906. The weight reported for 1908 

 is 90 tons below that reported for 1907. In stating the total for 1908 

 we complete another period of five years when, as in the past, an 

 average is struck. The figure for 1908 is 1555 tons, and the average 

 for the last five years is 1865 tons. We have now three quinquennial 

 averages with which to compare the totals. These averages are in 

 order 2771, 2034, and 1865 tons. Taking the total weight of salmon 

 reported as having been carried last season (1908) and comparing it 

 with these three quinquennial averages, we find : — 



A deficiency of 1216 tons compared with period 1894-1898 

 479 „ „ „ 1899-1903 



310 „ „ „ 1904-1908 



