106 



Appendices to Twenty -second Annual Report 



The first entry, that for the Tay in 1901, is too insignificant to be 

 reliable. In the Novembers of 1902 and 1903, however, we have taken 

 615 fish, of which 223 were males and 392 were females, being in the 

 proportion of 100 males to 171 females. In the case of the Spey in the 

 year 1896 the proportion is, on the other hand, 100 males to 433 

 females. In my mind it is however uncertain whether the rapid 

 reaches of the Gordon Castle water — where this marking was carried 

 on — is a suitable place in which to estimate the proportion of the sexes 

 of breeding fish. It is most suitable as a fishery for early clean run fish, 

 but from the very great numbers of late running spawners which 

 ascend the tributary of the Fiddich a short distance above the Orton 

 Water, as well as from the rapidity of the water-flow in the lower main 

 river, I imagine that such breeding fish as may be captured in the 

 Gordon Castle water are to a great extent, as it were, passing through 

 that water. Elaborate note of paired spawning fish is annually made 

 by the water bailiffs in the Spey, and I would not regard the above 

 return as altogether confuting their statements that there is no marked 

 discrepancy between the sexes. 



If we turn now to the kelt records for November, December, and 

 January from the Tay and Spey, we are at once able to notice a marked 

 change. In the Tay, males have largely disappeared, being now in the 

 the proportion of about 1 to 10 females. In the Spey in December and 

 January male kelts are twice as numerous as were the unspawned fish. 

 In February the sexes amongst kelts show a complete change ; the 

 males are now in excess, there being 1-J- to every female. This to my 

 mind indicates clearly, and this is also indicated by the disappearance 

 of males in the Tay, a rapid descent of male kelts after spawning. In the 

 Tay, therefore, while in November one may find a very fair proportion 

 of uc spawned or spawning males, one can find very few male kelts (and 

 how far those remaining may be fish which have descended from 

 tributaries it is impossible to say), and the indications are that the males 

 after spawning have at once descended the river. In the Spey, in the 

 rapid lower reaches, where, as I have said, spawning fish may not 

 naturally linger to any extent, male kelts increase in number during 

 the months of December, January, and February, and are in excess of 

 the females in the last-named month. They are making a descent 

 from the upper river and tributaries. The waters netted on the 

 Tay correspond topographically to the area immediately above the Spey 

 Orton water. 



I stated that from Sutherland, Caithness, and Ross reports go to show 

 that males predominate. It will be noticed that, so far as kelts are 

 concerned, the sexes in the Helmsdale are pretty equally divided, while 

 in the Brora (Loch Brora) the proportion of females increases as the 

 spring advances, being in April 9-J- to 1. If we may argue by analogy 

 from conditions represented by large rivers like the Tay, this simply 

 means that Loch Brora acts upon females in their descent as a large 

 pool in a large river does, and causes them to pause, so that they 

 congregate. The fact that in those Northern rivers in February, 

 March, and April female kelts are more numerous than males, does not, 

 I think, in any way contradict the statement that during the fishing 

 season or " back end " males are in excess — the males after becoming 

 spent have more quickly descended. The idea is further strengthened 

 by the figure for the Thurso in November. These fish were netted from 

 the river near Brawl and artificially spawned. At spawning time, 

 therefore, the males are shown to be in excess in Caithness. 



