of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



55 



VI. — General Remarks. 



The new mouth formed at Druie two years ago continues most satisfactory, 

 and affords a splendid draw or entrance to spawning fish ascending from the 

 River Spey to the fine spawning grounds upon the Druie and its tributaries. 



The sea coast and river net salmon fishing opened for the season on 11th 

 February, and closed again for the yearly close time on 26th of August. The 

 weekly close times were regularly inspected by the Superintendent, the 

 Inspector, and Constable R. Sivewright, Spey mouth. 



On 28th November last, Mr. T. Rae, overseer of salmon fishings, Tugnet, 

 and a crew of men fished unsuccessfully the Ballindalloch water of Spey to 

 secure ova for the Fochabers Hatchery. The young fish to be produced by 

 the ova were intended to be returned to the Spey at Ballindalloch. Only 

 three male salmon were caught after the day's fishing. On 1st January, 1903, 

 the Hatchery was completely filled with about 840,000 ova, which were 

 very successfully hatched out by 1st May. Of these, after being fed, on 9th 

 June 10,000 were conveyed to the Carron and Knockando reaches and let into 

 the river. By 21st July 40,000 fry were transferred to the rearing ponds at 

 Tugnet, and the remainder were transferred to the river at Fochabers. The 

 most of the previous year's parr which were being reared at the ponds at 

 Tugnet were set at liberty by the heavy flood of the 31st January last, which 

 completely inundated the ponds. 



The full force of bailiffs or Spey police is constituted as follows : — The 

 Superintendent, residing in Aberlour the Inspector, stationed at Grantown ; 

 eight sergeants, and thirty-six constables. 



GEORGE K. MACGREGOR, Superintendent. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER LOSSIE. 



Take of Fish— 



1. (c) Stotfield Sea net fishings ; about an average. 



3. (a) At opening of sea net fishing (11th February 1903) ; (6) on sea 

 fishings, April and August ; (c) grilse and sea trout run up the Lossie 

 as early as J uly and onwards. 



5. Have no information. 



Protection — 



1. £106 5s. for year 1902-03. 



3. One bailiff protecting smolts during six weeks April till June. Three 



bailiffs taking duty at 1st October to protect spawning fish. 



4. No. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



2. Just being put into conformity with Bye-laws. 



3. No. 



4. Existing mills in Elgin take so much water for driving power that it is 



only with spates that salmon can ascend the dam dykes. 



Pollutions — 



1. No fresh cause known to me. 



2. The Town Council of Lossiemouth propose to introduce the whole of the 



sewage of Lossiemouth, Stotfield, and Branderburgh near the mouth of 

 the river, and as this, if carried out, will injure the fishings in the sea 

 and prevent salmon from ascending the river to spawn, His Grace the 

 Duke ot Richmond and Gordon has taken legal proceedings against 

 the Council to prevent them from introducing the sewage there, unless 

 it be purified. 



The Salmon Disease — 

 1. No data for last year. 



