of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



395 



He gives the following places as best suited for oyster or mussel 

 culture : — Basta Voe, Olnafirth Voe, Vaila Sound, Weisdale Voe, Burra 

 Isle, &c, &c A Lerwick merchant, thoroughly well informed in all 

 matters relating to the. fisheries, writes : — 



Any oysters or mussels got in Shetland are taken up without any leave being 

 asked from any one. But very few oysters remain. The number of oysters and 

 mussels has diminished very considerably. There are a great many cases in 

 which formerly productive oyster and mussel beds have been dredged out and 

 destroyed. No steps are being taken to restore such beds. Protection is 

 essential. I should say that all round Shetland there are places suitable for the 

 culture of both oysters and mussels. But nothing will be done by proprietors 

 or others to improve the present state of matters until the law assists them. 



I have the honour to be, 



Your obedient servant, 



ARCHd. young, 



Inspector of Salmon Fisheries fen" Scotland. 



The Fishery Board for Scotland, 

 Edinburgh, March 30, 1887. 



NOTE I.— APPENDIX G. 



PRINTED QUERIES. 



Fishery Board for Scotland, 

 101 George Street, Edinburgh, May 1886. 

 Sir, — I beg to inform you that I have been directed by the Fishery Board 

 for Scotland to make an inspection of the sea-trout and salmon fisheries in 

 Orkney and Shetland, and afterwards to prepare a Report for the Board. 

 I have thought it advisable, before commencing my personal inspection, to 

 draw up a list of queries with the view of eliciting as much information as 

 possible from those interested in, or acquainted with, the fisheries in these 

 localities. I now beg to enclose you a copy of these queries, and to request 

 an answer at your earliest convenience. — I have the honour to be, your 

 obedient servant, Acho. Young, 



Inspector of Salmon Fisheries for Scotland. 

 N.B. — A stamped envelope is enclosed, in which the queries, when 

 answered, may be returned to Mr Young, 



Queries. 

 Annual Close Time. 



1. Do you approve of the period of 108 days' annual close time which at 



present applies to all migratory fish of the salmon kind in the Orkney 

 and Shetland Islands ? If you do not approve, state what alteration 

 you would suggest. 



2. Is the period fixed for the commencement and termination of the annual 



close time in your district satisfactory '? If not, what change would 

 you wish ? 



