244 Appendices to Twenty-ninth Annual Report 



In my visits to very many remote parts of Scotland, I think I have not 

 seen a better place for the construction of an impounding dam than at the 

 outlet of Loch Baa, or a place where better facilities exist for the creation 

 of artificial floods. 



NORTI[ ESK. 



It will be within the recollection of the Board th.'it in the Salmon 

 Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1868, and by Section 12 of that Act, the water- 

 course or mill-lade of Kinnaber is excepted from the operation of the 

 Bye-laws attached to the Act. From time to time, also, it has been 

 pointed out that in the Section in question a clerical error existed, in that 

 in providing for a free space at the intake of the lade, the word " less " 

 has been used instead of the word " more," the clause thus reading that "a 

 space of not less than eighteen inches between the bottom of the sluice and 

 the sill or bed . . . "be allowed. 



Last year a Provisional Order was promoted to consolidate the powers 

 of the Provost, Magistrates, and Councillors of the Burgh of Montrose 

 with respect to their existing waterworks, to authorise them to provide an 

 additional water supply, and to construct and maintain new waterworks, 

 and for other purposes. 



Works of considerable magnitude were proposed for the storage and 

 supply of the additional water to Montrose, and at the same time certain 

 works were proposed which were of distinct interest in connection with the 

 salmon fisheries of the district. 



It was proposed to repeal Section 12 of the Act already referred to, to 

 place a heck at the intake of the Kinnaber lade, to place a gauge near the 

 mouth of the lade so that not more than the previous amount of water 

 could pass down the lade, to place a heck at the outfall of the lade, and 

 to close the sluice at the intake from seven o'clock on Saturday evening till 

 six o'clock on Monday morning. These operations were, in my opinion, 

 likely to be beneficial to the North Esk as a salmon river. 



In connection with the fourth proposal — that to place a heck at the 

 outfall of the lade — some discussion arose at the inquiry as to what con- 

 stituted the outfall of the lade. It has been clear for a great many years 

 that the point at which the water from the lade joined the river was a long 

 way down stream from the point where the course of the lade joined the 

 course of the river, and where a heck has long existed. The junction of 

 the lade and river water is just above the netting pool called the Fluke 

 Hole, and, owing probably to the silting up of the river channel, a long 

 spit or neck of land has formed, so that the lade water is now carried 

 through the road bridge called the Lower North Water Bridge, and about a 

 quarter of a mile lower down stream to the point of junction with the main 

 flow of the river. A good lead for fish ascending the North Esk is offered 

 by this water which comes from the lade, and fish freely do ascend it till 

 they reach a small circular pool called the Laddie's Hole" just below the 

 heck. Here the salmon are, as it were, in a trap, and here for many years 

 they have been netted. In the interests of the salmon, it was held that 

 the heck should be placed at the point where the lade water joins the river 

 water, or, conversely, if the lower channel was now to be regarded as a 

 part of the river, the channel should be directly connected with the river 

 so that fish could continue their ascent. An arrangement of this sort was 

 agreed to by the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the matter in 

 Edinburgh, but ultimately it was decided to depart from this point. While 

 greatly regretting this decision, I have pleasure in reporting that the other 

 points were agreed to, and that, therefore. Section 12 is now repealed, 

 heck is provided for at the intake of the lade, and suitable arrangements 

 made for the regulation of the water flow. 



