4 Appendices to Twenty -second Annual Report 



Favourable to Limita- 

 tion of Netting in 

 Narrow Waters. 



Unable to Express 

 Opinion or take 

 Action. 



Against Limitation 

 of Netting. 



1. Tweed. 



2. Forth. 



3. Dee (Ab'rd'nshire). 



4. Don. 



5. Spey. 



6. Findhorn. 



{ . i^yle or fcutnerJancl. 



8. Awe. 



9. Cree. 



10. Nith. 



11. Annan. 



12. Tay. 



13. South Esk, 



14. Deveron. 



15. Ness. 



16. Conon. 



17. Dee (Sol way) 



18. North Esk. 



In the case of Boards favourable to the limitation of netting in 

 narrow waters, I may mention that in the river Annan all netting 

 has already been removed ; and that since the date of my meeting 

 with the Spey Board, the nets of the Spey have been removed 

 — after agreement respecting compensation — as far down as the 

 Cumberland Ford below the road bridge at Fochabers, thus leaving 

 only about three miles of netted water. With regard to the Aber- 

 deenshire Dee, it is unnecessarj^ for me here to refer to the well- 

 known operations of the Dee Angling Improvement Association in 

 removing, by means of voluntary subscription, the nets of that 

 river from Banchory downwards, for fully sixteen miles, almost to 

 Aberdeen. The resolution of the Dee Fishery Board was, however, 

 interesting as showing a strong belief in the value, to the general 

 interests of the district fisheries, of the Angling Association's 

 operations. The results referred to have now stood the test of 

 fully thirty years' experience, and the resolution of the Dee Board 

 shows that the members, both upper and lower proprietors, desire 

 to secure the permanency of the conditions which have been 

 created, but which up to the present time, from 1872, have existed 

 merely on the precarious footing of yearly agreement. The River 

 Tweed is still netted as the Dee was in 1872, namely for sixteen 

 miles upwards from the mouth, and the main runs of fish are 

 now crowded into the very late close season. It is therefore of 

 great interest to find,*I think, that the Tweed Commissioners can 

 approach the subject of the proposed limitation of netting, and 

 that a highly representative committee can pass a resolution in 

 favour of the proposal. In no district in Scotland does the salmon 

 fishing industry receive a larger share of public attention ; in no 

 district are more men employ ed in the industry ; and in view of 

 the large interests involved and the importance of the fisheries, it 

 is clear that the best possible regulations should be brought into 

 play in order to conserve and improve the resources of this 

 wonderful river. 



