28 



Appendices to Seventeenth Annual Report 



tacksmen of fishings and their respective managers and fishermen in carrying 

 out the observance of the weekly close times all over the district during the 

 season was all that could in reason be desired, the " slapping " of nets being on 

 ail occasions strictly attended to when the same was practicable, or, in other 

 words, when then there was no danger or risk to life in carrying out the work. 

 The carrying out of this work during the season was regularly inspected by 

 the Superintendent, the Inspector, and Sergeant Alex. Mackintosh. 



During the early months of last summer, 840,000 salmon fry were trans- 

 ferred from His Grace the Duke of Richmond and Gordon's Hatchery at 

 Fochabers and deposited in the river Spey. This is now the sixth enormous 

 consignment of fry placed in the river from this Hatchery. I visited it on 

 two or three occasions during the spring and early summer months, and the 

 show of fry in the boxes was in no way inferior to the high class quality of the 

 fry of former seasons at this place, the only difference being an increase of 

 some 300,000 fry over the last year and previous years. This was the result of 

 the Hatchery premises being duplicated in size during last autumn. The 

 extension of the house embraces eight new ova boxes with the latest improved 

 enamelled tile lining, and capable of hatching 240,000 ova, also a large con- 

 crete impounding tank, well supplied with pure fresh water, and capable of 

 keeping 100 salmon. This last mentioned acquisition is of material importance 

 in lessening the otherwise laborious work of securing ripe ova to stock the 

 boxes. Fishing for male and female salmon for the purpose of obtaining ova 

 from the same on the spot means no end of toil and disappointment, as the fish in 

 question must necessarily be just ripe for spawning, and, where such an enor- 

 mous quantity of ova is required, it is only those who have taken part in such 

 work who actually know the amount of labour and expense incurred. Fish about 

 ready or almost ripe are not so difficult to obtain. This last mentioned class 

 are consequently retained and deposited within the Hatchery impounding 

 pond, when in the course of a few days they will allow of being stripped, and 

 the ova thus secured placed in the boxes and the stripped fish returned alive 

 to the river. An impounding pond on a large scale for the retention of the 

 hatched fry for the culture in the parr stages after they leave the Hatchery 

 would certainly entail much work and expense, but, should a suitable place 

 for such be selected, it would put this Hatchery in the first rank with any 

 Hatchery in the country. 



The full force of Bailiffs or Spey Police is constituted as follows : — The 

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

 eight Sergeants and thirty-seven Constables. 



GEORGE K. MACGREGOR, Superintendent. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER FINDHORN, 



Take of Fish— 



1. (a), (6), (c), and (d) Below average. 



2. (a), (&), and (c) I can give no information. 



3. (a) 11th February; (6) April and May; (c) May, June and July, fine 



trout may be got throughout the season. 



4. (a) and (6) I can give no information. 



5. (a) Salmon 36 lbs.; trout 3 lbs; (6) salmon 44 lbs. ; (c) salmon 16 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. £3,436. 



2. £34.\ 



3. Three permanent watchers and thirteen watchers employed during 



spawning season. 



4. No. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



1. No obstruction to the passage of fish on the river Findhorn. 



2. No dams, &c. 



3. No fish-passes. 



4. 5, and 6. No. 



