of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



47 



REPORT FROM SUTHERLAND (EAST AND WEST), BEING 

 FOR HELMSDALE, BRORA, FLEET, KIRKAIG, INVER, 

 LAXFORD, AND INCHARD DISTRICTS. 



NOTE. — The particulars printed in italics refer to the West Coast of 

 Sutherland. 



Take of Fish— 



1. As compared with the average results of previous years, the take of fish 



generally throughout the district has been above the average by rods. 



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



(a) By fixed engine— Salmon, 6Jf6 ; grilse, J^YSl ; trout, 211. 



(b) By sweep net — Salmon, 826 ; grilse, 312 ; trout, 125. 



(c) By rod and line — Helmsdale, 1325 ; Brora, 382. 



3. Expressed as percentages for each month of the season, so as to show the 



times of greatest run, the figures are : — 





Jan. 



Feb. 



Mar. 



April. 



May. 



June. 



July. 



Aug. 



Sept. 



( Salmon, 

 By Fixed Engines Grilse, 

 { Trout, 







3-56 

 '47 



3-89 

 ■02 

 '47 



30-65 

 1-33 

 7-58 



36-22 

 43-73 

 54-97 



23-83 

 52 01 

 35-09 



1- 85 



2- 91 

 1'42 





( Salmon, 

 By Sweep Net < Grilse, 

 (.Trout, 







32-68 



27-60 



24-57 

 12-82 

 16-00 



7-87 

 67-00 

 64-80 



4-35 

 13-46 

 16-00 



2- 93 

 6-72 



3- 20 





By Rod and Line, 



•90 



6-80 



32-00 



17-73 



15-54 



14-06 



7-47 



3-09 



2-41 



West Coast. 



Brora Net 

 Fishings. 



Helmsdale 

 River. 



Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared, as included in 

 the above return, are as follows : — On the West Coast grilse were first 

 caught in the month of April and sea trout in March by the bag nets. 

 The river Brora netting did not start till 1st May ; the figures shown 

 for the months March and April were arrived at by including fish 

 netted in Loch Brora during those months. 

 4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 26| lbs., 

 by rod and line. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Caught on No. 6 

 beat (lower) of the river Helmsdale by Frank Sykes, Esq., Borrobol. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1905, according to valuation roll, was, East Coast 



£2160, West Coast £1317, but angling is mostly let with shootings 

 and not apportioned at full value. 



2. The water bailiffs employed are 4 in number, but gamekeepers are bound 



to assist in watching the rivers and streams. 



Obstructions to the Passage of B'ish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — The Badanloch dam has been 



heightened two feet with a view to keeping the river Helmsdale 

 supplied with water for a longer period than formerly. 



2. With regard to the observance of bye-laws : — The bye-laws have been 



observed. 



Pollutions- 

 There is no pollution. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance last year in the month of June on the river 

 Brora and continued till the spawning season. It has not been noticed 

 since. 



