of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



255 



4." Particulnrs as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follows: — Four 

 cases, implicating four men, for having smolt in their possession. Three 

 of these cases settled out of Court ; in remaining case, conviction 

 obtained. Three cases, implicating five men, for taking fish by means 

 of clip, etc. In two of these cases, implicating four men, convictions 

 obtained ; remaining case found not proven. One case, implicating 

 two men, for taking sea trout by means of hang-net in sea ; conviction 

 obtained. One case for non-removal of leaders during weekly close 

 time found not proven. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



1. Dam dyke disused— At Upper Mill of Allardice, which has now ceased 



working. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes. 



3. No fish passes built or in prospect. 



4. No natural obstructions. 



The Spawning" Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 31st October. 



2. The greatest number spawned in November, December, and January. 



3. Spawning ceased in first week of February. 



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



spawning season is regarded as having been good. The river was 

 slightly in flood during the whole of the spawning season. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April up to the end of 



June. 



2. As a smolt year 1910 was very good. 



REPORT FROM YTHAN DISTRICT. 

 Take of Pish— 



1. State whether the take of fish has been above or below the average of 



previous years — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — Rather below an average. 

 (6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — Rather below average, 

 (c) By rod and line— Above the average in Spring, but below the 

 average in Autumn. 



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



(c) By rod and line — x4.bout 170 salmon. 



3. Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared are as follow : — 



Grilse appeared in May, and sea trout in June. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 49^ lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — 12th August, in a bag- 

 net on sea coast (Newburgh fishings), south side of the river Ythan. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £1360. 



2. The assessment levied was £"139,485 per £. 



3. The water bailifls employed are 5 in number— 1 all the year round, and 



4 extra during close time. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — There was 



one prosecution against James Robb, farm servant. Mill of Gight, Fyvie, 

 for a contravention of Section 15 (7) of "The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) 

 Act, 1868," on 6th January, 1910. Respondent fined 10s. with £2 3s. 7d. 

 of expenses. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish. 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect — None. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Fairly Avell observed 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — None. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with — None. 



