of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



9 



In the Conon District, the Brahan Castle cniives are again being Conon Cruives. 

 fished, and it is reported in consequence that the valne of the rod 

 fishings above the cruive dykes has been materially affected. I 

 have no data to show the extent of the averred decline, but I am of 

 opinion that in any district where cruive fishing is carried on the 

 natural and necessary distribution of ascending fish is impossible, 

 and that it is therefore most unfortunate that these cruives should 

 again have been fished. A short statement concerning this matter 

 will be found in Appendix II. in the report from the Conon 

 District. Other cruive fishings which remain in Scotland are other Cruives. 

 on the Don at Granholm Mills, the Earn at Strathallan, the 

 Forth at Craigforth, the Awe at Inverawe — perhaps the least 

 injurious cruive on account of the good midstream gap which 

 exists — and the Cluden at Cluden Mills. I am pleased to be able 

 to report that in all probability the last-named cruive, or as it is 

 locally termed, " creel," may be modified in a beneficial manner 

 before another fishing season. It is noteworthy that in the past, 

 whenever the owner of the right of cruive fishings has had any 

 interest in preserving angling in the upper waters, he has dis- 

 continued the use of his cruive and in many cases allowed the 

 dykes to be gradually demolished by floods, or removed entirely 

 from the river. 



In the Ness District the proprietors round Loch Ness have Loch Ness 

 recently formed an Association named "The Loch Ness Angling Anghng * 

 Association" for the purpose of controlling and regulating the 

 angling in that locality. Each member of the Association has the 

 right to use two boats in fishing the loch, while other boats are 

 available for the public at a scale of charges agreed upon. As the 

 gamekeepers of the various proprietors are to be regarded as bailiffs 

 of the Association for the detection of poaching offences, the 

 influence of the Association may be regarded as supplementary to 

 the action of the District Fishery Board. 



In this district a most extensive work in the construction of a 

 new fish pass round the Invermoriston Fall has now been com- 

 pleted. A description of this will be found in Appendix VII. 



When at Stirling for the purpose of meeting the Forth District Allan Water. 

 Board in order to discuss the recommendations of the Royal Com- 

 mission respecting the limitation of netting in narrow waters, I 

 took occasion to inspect the various dam dykes of the Allan Water. 

 This tributary seems to attract large numbers of fish in the latter 

 part of the season. It drains an area estimated as 77 square miles 

 in extent, and contains much valuable spawning ground. In view 

 of the fact that in the neighbourhood of Bridge of Allan and 

 Dunblane much snatching and stroke -hauling of fish is reported as 

 practised in the autumn, it is to be regretted that the dam dykes 

 are not provided with suitable fish passes to enable the gravid fish 

 to ascend to the higher and less frequented waters. 



In ascending the river the first obstruction is Keirfield Dam Dyke, 

 immediately above and in part under the bridge at Bridge of Allan. 

 The lade and mill are on the right bank, the former being unpro- 

 vided with hecks, but at the extreme left end of the dyke, in the 

 angle caused by the dyke meeting the retaining wall of the road 



