of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



has been most successful. Although the sporting qualities of this fish 

 are not equal to those of trout, the grayling is adapted for the rather- 

 more sluggish water which is to be found in some of our rivers, and 

 which is of inferior value for trouting ; and the fish is in best condition 

 during the winter months, when trout are out of condition if not out 

 of season. 



Banks of gravel, such as were supposed to exist at the mouth of the 

 Isla, are more likely to arise at the confluence of rather rapid streams, 

 as at the points where the Lyon or the Tummel joins the Tay. The Lyon. 

 Gallan Falls, above Meggernie, on the Lyon, were visited on the last day 

 of the rod fishing season, but, owing to the low condition of the river,' 

 the few salmon which were seen attempting the lower cascades were 

 unable to ascend. The Falls of Tummel, the weir at Dalcroy, and the.Tumm< 

 falls at Dunalister were the obstructions visited during the inspection of 

 the latter river. 



Several parts of the Spey District were also visited. The important Spey. 

 case of the Countess Dowager of Seafield and others against Roderick 

 Kemp, of Macallan Distillery, with reference to the pollution of the 

 Ringorm Burn and Biver Spey, has significance not only for all other 

 distillers who pollute the Spey, but for the manner in which river 

 pollution in general may be opposed by riparian proprietors. Several 

 good salmon streams in Scotland have been entirely closed to migratory 

 fish through being regarded as convenient effluents for the poisonous 

 bye-products of manufactories. In the case of the Spey, time has been 

 granted by the Court, in order that another method of disposing of the 

 deleterious matter may be devised The decision of the First Division 

 of the Court of Session will be found in Note IV. P- 



A river which may be described as hanging in the balance between 

 extreme pollution and a return to its former condition of a salmon 

 river of the first class, is the Don. To render this river satisfactory to 

 both upper and lower proprietors three lines of improvement seem 

 to be necessary : — (a) To stop pollution by arranging that deleterious 

 matter be disposed of through other channels. (b) To regulate the 

 amount of water which it may be permissible for any mill or factory 

 to abstract, (c) To afford salmon greater facilities for ascending the 

 artificial obstructions of the river. 



In my inspection I ascended the river from the Bridge of Don. I 

 shall mention the matters which more especially engaged my 

 attention in the order in which they occur from the mouth upwards. 

 At Kettoch Mill, on the left bank — a barley and meal mill which 

 appears to cause little or no pollution— a heck exists at the foot 

 of the tail race, but it is of an unsatisfactory type. The bars are thin 

 and irregular, and even at normal flow of the river do not reach as high 

 as the surface of the water. Ascending salmon could easily swim over 

 the upper surface of the heck, and I was informed by the local inspector 

 that they do so in considerable numbers, and that the lade between the 

 mill and the heck is hunted by poachers on all possible opportunities. 

 A more suitable heck should be provided. The dam-dyke offers little or 

 no obstruction to ascending fish. It is built at a bend of the river, and has 

 a Y-shaped angle pointing up stream. The apex of the Y forms a good 

 pass for salmon, the dyke being comparatively low. 



Gordon's Mills and Don Mills, on the right bank — carding and 

 spinning mill, and paper mill respectively. The dyke which enables 

 water to be drawn to those mills is not only a dam-dyke, but is also a 

 cruive-dyke or fishing weir. At normal conditions of flow the whole of 

 the water in the river passes through the four cruive boxes (vide Note 

 III.). Immediately below the cruives, Plate I., the fishing pool known p. 54. 

 as the Lebby Pot occurs. This pool, which has been netted for a great 



