of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



397 



10. If there is no District Board, arc any steps being taken to constitute one ? 



17. Is there any association of proprietors for the purpose of protecting the 



fishings, and seeing that the provisions of the Salmon Fishery Acts 

 of 1802 and 1808 are duly observed ? 



Obstructions to the Passage of Salmon or Sea-Trout. 



18. Are there any dams, cruives, or other obstructions to the passage of 



salmon or sea-trout on any of the streams in Orkney and Shetland ? 



Pollutions. 



10. Are any of the lochs or streams in Orkney and Shetland contaminated by 

 pollutions ? If so, mention them, state the nature of the pollution, 

 whether it is increasing or diminishing, and also whether any steps 

 have been taken by the polluters to neutralise the pollution before 

 returning the water used by them into any loch or river ? 



Otters, Spears, Leisters, dc. 



20. Are any otters, spears, leisters, or such like instruments of the descrip- 



tion of those prohibited by the 17th section of The Salmon Fisheries 

 (Scotland) Act, 1808, used for the capture of sea-trout, or other fish 

 of the salmon kind, in any of the inland lochs in Orkney and Shetland 

 which communicate with the sea, or in any of the streams flowing 

 into or issuing from the said lochs ? 



21. Are there any other points relating to the salmon or sea-trout fisheries 



in Orkney and Shetland, to which you would wish to direct attention 

 in addition to those suggested by the preceding queries ? 



Oysters and Mussels. 



1. Are there any oyster beds or mussel scalps in Orkney and Shetland at 



present which are regularly worked and yield a profit to their 

 owners ; if so, mention the localities where they occur ? 



2. Has the number of oysters and mussels in Orkney and Shetland 



increased or diminished during the last twenty years ? 



3. Do you know of any cases in which formerly productive oyster and 



mussel beds have been dredged out and so destroyed ? 

 4 Are any steps being taken to restore such beds by scientific oyster or 

 mussel culture ? 



5. Do you think that it is essential to successful oyster or mussel culture 

 that the oyster or mussel culturist, having a legal right to oyster 

 or mussel-beds, should be enabled to claim the protection of the 

 police, or the coast guard, or some other effectual form of protection, 

 in order to prevent strangers from dredging out his oysters and 

 mussels when they come to maturity ? 



0. Mention the localities in Orkney and Shetland which you think best 

 fitted for oyster and mussel culture, and state any other points regard- 

 ing the oyster and mussel fisheries which you think worthy of attention. 



