of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



277 



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

 spawning season is regarded as very good in the upper reaches. On the 

 lower reaches the spawning was much hindered by ice on the fords. 

 The number of fish was below the average. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April, May, and June, 



2. As a smolt year 1914 was very good. 



REPORT FROM NAIRN DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The estimated catch in relation to that of former years was : — 



{a) By fixed engme — ^Above average. 

 (6) By sweep net — Average, 

 (c) By rod and line — ^Average. 



2. Sea trout : — 



(a) The number taken was 2000. 



(6) As compared with previous years — -Above average. 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the sen.sDu was 37 lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are: — in /. iiuust. at West 



Old Bar. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1914 was £1205 8s. 



2. The assessment levied was Is. 6d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 2 in number, 1 being permanent, and 1 



being employed during the close season. 



4. No prosecution's instituted. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



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



3. Fish passes built or in pros|iect : — None. 



Pollutions— 



None. 



The Salmon Disease — 



There was no disease. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Pish were first noticed spawning as follows : — Sea trout were first seen on 



15th October, and salmon on 5th November. 



2. The greatest number spawned between 15th November and 10th December. 



3. Spawning ceased about the middle of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as an average. There were plenty of 

 breeding fish in the river this season. The state of water was half flood. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards about 12th April. They 



disappeared from the river on 10th June. 



2. As a smolt year 1914 was very good. 



REPORT FROM NESS DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse : — (a) By fixed engine in the sea — Not 

 available. 



(6) By rod and line— Loch Ness, Fort-Augustus, 390 salmon and 

 grilse ; River Oich, 100 salmon and grilse ; River Morriston, 



