of the Fishery Board jor Scotland. 



263 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or iu prospect : — No dam dykes have been dis- 



used or built, nor arc any in prosj)ect. 



2. Are the I)ye-laws ol)served in every case ?— All the bye-laws observed in 



every case. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — No fish passes have been built, nor are 



there any in prospect. 



4. Natural obstructi(ms not yet dealt with are : — Falls of Orrin, Falls of Scat- 



well, Falls of Conon, Falls of Rogie, and Falls of Garve. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning about the middle of October. 



2. The greatest number spawned between 8th November and 25th November. 

 8. Spawning ceased about 26th December. 



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

 spawning season is regarded as about the average. The river has been 

 in high flood from the beginning of November up to 26th December. 



Smolts- 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the latter end of March, 



April, and May. 



2. As a smolt year 1910 was fairly good. 



REPORT FROM ALNESS DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. The takes of fish by sweep net in ftidal or fresh water and by rod and line 



have been below the average of previous years, owing to dry weather 

 during September and October. There are no fixed nets in the district- 



2. The actual number of fish caught is not known. 



3. July is the best month for grilse and sea trout. Salmon run from April to 



end of season. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was about 25 



lbs., taken by net on Teaninich fishing in June. The heaviest salmon 

 taken by rod weighed 16 lbs., killed on Ardross water in May. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £451. 



2. The assessment levied was 5s. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 1 permanent, with an assistant during the 



spring months and again in autumn. 



4. No prosecutions. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish. 



1. No change as regards obstructions in the Alness river. On the Balnagovvn 



river a new dam is in course of erection, and the proprietor has been 

 requested to see that the provisions of the statutes and bye-laws as to 

 fish passes are observed in its construction. 



2. The bye-laws are well observed in the Alness river, and fairly well 



observed in the Balnagown river, as fish can get up the latter river when 

 it is in flood. 



3. No change as regards fish passes. 



4. There are no natural obstructions. 



Pollutions— 



1. There is practically no pollution in the district. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. There was no salmon disease in 1910. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Sea trout were first noticed spawning on 20th October ; salmon and grilse 

 on 1st November. 



