246 Appendices to Twenty-ninth Annual Report 



been reported to me that the number of breeding fish seen in the 

 upper waters is very greatly increased, and in connection with the dis- 

 tribution of those fish, most of the dam dykes in the river have now been 

 provided with passes. The dyke most lacking in this respect is that at 

 Ballochmyle. 



In April I received a letter from Mr. Oswald of Auchincruive, the 

 Chairman of the Board, in which he reports that several clean fish have 

 been ascending the lowest dyke. This is a most hopeful sign. No clean 

 fish have been seen earlier than May for many years. 



DOON. 



As already reported, practically all nets, both fresh- water and sea^ were 

 removed from this district as in the neighbouring district of Ayr. This 

 arrangement was secured by the action of a syndicate of proprietors 

 procuring a lease of all netting for a period of five years. At first the 

 syndicate sub-let the sea fishings, but for the last two or three years all 

 nets, whether in the mouth of the river or in the sea, have been removed. 

 The cost of this arrangement has, however, been excessive, and this spring 

 the proprietors and tenants had a joint meeting to consider the matter, 

 and decided to let certain of the sea fishings. They theieafter accepted an 

 oflfer for a lease of the sea fishings for .'six years, subject to the condition 

 that no nets be placed between Greenan Castle on the south, and a line due 

 west of the bandstand on the Low Green, Ayr. This represents an 

 extension of the estuary to, I suppose, about three-quarters of a mile on 

 each side of the river mouth. 



Spby. 



The removal of nets in this district seems also to have produced the 

 most satisfactory results. The returns in rod fishing alone, as far up as 

 Grantown, have very greatly increased, and it now behoves those owing 

 rights in the upper waters to give more attention to their pools. To the 

 general welfare of the river in the di.stribution of breeding stock over the 

 splendid upper spawning grounds, the benefit must be very great indeed. 



In this district I also inspected a small weir — that of Balvenie, on the 

 Fiddich, near Dufftown. Owing to the action of floods, the weir had been 

 in great part carried away, and Mr. Findlay of Aberlour, the owner of the 

 structure, had been requested by the District Board to renew it. I made 

 certain suggestions as to the best way to repair it, and to insert a suitable 

 pass, but, from various considerations, it may be possible for Mr. Findlay to 

 remove it altogether, and negotiations concerning tliis are now in 

 progress. 



Forth. 



With regard to dam dykes and passes, I may also mention the case of 

 the Airthrey Dyke and Pass on Allan Water. The Forth District Fishery 

 Board, at considerable expense, had a pass erected at this obstruction 

 about two years ago. It has proved quite unsatisfactory, and various 

 proposals have been considered for the improving or removing of it. 1 

 referred to the dyke and pass in my paper on Salmon Passes " in last 

 Annual Report (Appendix I., p. 1 1.) I have had considerable correspondence 

 regarding this pass. The mouth of it was originally placed too far from 

 the weir, and too much above the level of the river.' Arrangements are 

 now made for the alteration of the structure in a way which I hope may 

 allow of better results. 



