54 



A ppendices to Twenty -second Annual Repwt 



There were ice fringes along the margins of the river and tributaries from 

 the 5th till the 11th of December, and again, but more severe, from the 10th 

 till the 20th of January, 1902-03, but I do not think, owing to the gradual 

 and mild way it broke up, that much if any damage was caused to the 

 spawning beds from this source of danger. 



II, — Smolt Season. 



The smplt seaward migration season on the River Spey and tributaries 

 during last spring and early summer was to all appearance a good average one. 

 During the whole of the month of May they were seen to be very numerous 

 and abundant in the Fochabers and Garmouth districts while making their 

 descent into the tidal waters. They were protected upon the river and 

 tributaries by a force of eight bailiffs from 27th April to 6th June. Printed 

 precautionary notices to the number of six hundred were posted up along the 

 banks of the river and tributaries all over the district. The permanent staff 

 of bailiffs continued the protection of the fry during the later summer months. 

 On the 10th of August four bailiffs were put on duty to protect salmon fry, 

 principally upon the tributaries, where at said season there is much trout 

 angling carried on by summer visitors. 



III. — Disease among Fish. 



Disease showing among spawning salmon during last season was again noted 

 upon the Fiddich, when a correct detail of numbers, &c, was kept by the 

 bailiffs. These particulars have been kept upon this stream during the last 

 sixteen years. The number of dead and dying diseased fish removed away 

 from the banks of the stream and buried last year was 33. The number of 

 spawning beds counted upon the same river was 553, thus giving a percentage 

 of 6 per cent, of deaths to the number of spawning beds counted. The 

 previous year's percentage was 7 per cent. The percentages have varied 

 during the last 16 years from 6 to 21 per cent., the average being about 15 

 per cent. The fish affected last year were as follows : — 1 sea trout, 21 grilse, 

 and 11 salmon. They were all spawned and all male fish. The first diseased 

 fish (the sea trout) was found on 22nd November. The most virulent season 

 of the disease was from the middle till end of December. 



IV. — Poaching during the Year. 



James Williamson (23), and Alex. Williamson (25), tinkers or travelling 

 coopers, of no fixed place of residence, were detected poaching for salmon on 

 the Livet on 22nd September, 1902. They were tried before the Sheriff at 

 Banff, and sentenced, the first named to 10s. of a fine with 18s. of expenses, or 

 7 days in jail ; the second named to 15s. of a fine with £l 5s. of expenses, or 

 10 days' imprisonment. John Lawson, a teacher of dancing from Cromdale, 

 was detected by a gamekeeper poaching for salmon on the Tulchan fishings on 

 Spey at 3 o'clock in the morning of the 12th of May, 1903, by means of an 

 illegal instrument known as " an otter." He was tried for the offence before 

 the Elginshire Sheriff Court and sentenced to pay a fine of £2, with £1 of 

 expenses, with the alternative of 30 days' imprisonment. A woman residing 

 in the Fiddich district was, by order of the Chairman of the Board, called 

 upon and cautioned by the Superintendent for an offence of having put a 

 quantity of chaff into the Fiddich on 27th April, 1903. The woman evidently 

 committed the error not knowing that she was committing an offence. 



V. — Bye-laws. 



The Bye-Laws relating to dam dykes, mill lades, hecks, &c, have been well 

 attended to, and the dykes, &c, have been kept in repair and conform to the 

 Bye-Laws during the year. 



