of the Fishery Board for /Scotland. 



01 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



1. None. 



2. There are two cruives in the district, and they are worked in accordance 



with the provisions of the Bye-laws regulating the same. 



3. No. 



4. This may be said to involve a matter of some controversy between the 



upper and lower proprietors, and no reply is made. 



[The following answer to this question has been received from Mr. Gunn, 

 representing the upper proprietors, the statement having been forwarded 

 to me by the Clerk to the District Fishery Board. — W.L.C. 



As representing the upper proprietors, the subscriber begs to state that the 

 surroundings of the fish pass of the lower cruive on the River Conon as 

 they are now, and as the}] have been for a considerable time, are such as 

 to form a complete barrier against fish ascending to the upper ivaters. 

 Even tvhen the river is in flood they can only do so with great difficulty. 



That the obstructions in question will be found fully set forth in a statement 

 submitted by the subscriber at a meeting of the Conon District Fishery 

 Board, held on 1st July last — that at this meeting Mr. Calderwood, who 

 was present, expressed a wish to have a copy of said statement, which 

 t was duly sent to him. 



That these obstructions have injuriously affected the sport on the upper waters, 

 there is the best possible evidence in the gradual and very serious decline 

 in the take of fish by the rod in recent years. 



That in the present state of the Channel, and so long as the obstructions 

 referred to are permitted, it is an utter impossibility that a proportion of 

 each run of fish can ascend to the upper waters, notwithstanding the 

 strong recommendation under that head in the Royal Commission Report. 



That the upper proprietors regard these obstructions as being all the more 

 objectionable that they are to a large extent preventable at a moderate 

 cost. 



That it is obvious from what passed at the meeting at which Mr. Calderwood 

 was present, and the opposition of the lower proprietors to any change, 

 that the injury caused by these obstructions will be allowed to continue, 

 and that there is no hope of the very desirable recommendations of the 

 Royal Commission for an extension of the weekly close time and the 

 restricting of netting in narrow waters being adopted unless pressure 

 is brought to bear by the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



That ivhile the upper proprietors are more than ever convinced that the entire 

 removal of both cruives is the only real and effectual remedy, they 

 earnestly solicit the help and advice of the Fishery Board as to the best 

 means to adopt to remedy the existing very serious and unsatisfactory 

 state of matters. 



5. No. 



6. No. 



Pollutions — 



1. No. 



2. None. 



The Salmon Disease — 



1. The Inspector has seen no salmon disease in the Conon district. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. About the end of October. 



2. From the 5th of November to the 20th of same month. 



3. About 10th December. 



4. In very heavy flood. 



5. Less than last season. 



6. There are good spawning grounds in the River Conon from the tidal 



waters, and in the tributaries Blackwater, Orrin, and Meig. 



