of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



45 



2. The actual number of fish caught has been as follows : — 



(a) By fixed engine — No fixed engines. 



(b) By sweep net, not known. 



(c) By rod and line, not known. 



3. Grilse appear about middle of June, and best run is in July ; sea trout 



June and July. Finnochs can be got near mouth of river nearly all 

 the year round. A few salmon are to be found running up the Alness 

 from April to October. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 16 lbs., 



taken by rod and line ; cannot say the weight of heaviest landed by 

 net, but several were got over 20 lbs. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1904-05 was £735 15s. 



2. The assessment levied was 3s. per £. = £110 7s. 3d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are as follows : — 1 permauent head water 



bailiff, with temporary assistant watchers as may be found necessary 

 during the spring and autumn months. During spring of 1905 

 2 temporary assistants were employed, and during autumn of 1905 

 1 temporary assistant. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted : — None in 1905. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect :— No change. 



2. With regard to the observance of bye-laws : — There has been no breach 



of bye-laws. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — No change. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — No natural obstructions in 



the district. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage from the villages of Alness and 

 Bridgend, and also from some mansion-houses in the vicinity of the 

 river. This matter is under the consideration of the local authorities. 



1. Remedial measures : — The Easter Ross District Committee and the Mid 

 Ross District Committee, as the local authorities within whose 

 districts the said villages are situated, are at present discussing a joint 

 scheme under which the sewage of both villages will be carried direct 

 into the sea. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. The river was free of diseased fish in 1905. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on or about 20th October. Sea trout, 



salmon, and grilse Avere first noticed spawning in end of October. 



2. The greatest number spawned about the middle of November. 



3. Spawning ceased generally about Christmas. 



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



spawning season is regarded as below the average. The water was 

 heavy in flood most of the season, which made it difficult to ascertain 

 the numbers of spawning fish. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in May and June. 



2. As a smolt year 1905 was good. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon— 



1. The number of ova secured locally during the past season was nil, but ever 

 40,000 were got from Helmsdale river with a view to getting earlier 

 salmon to run up the river Alness. 



