32 



Appendices to Seventeenth Animal Report 



6. The net fishing at mouth of river was closed on 12th instead of 26th 

 August with "the view of improving the river, but, owing to the lowness 

 of the river at that time, it did not do much good. 



Pollutions — 



1. None. 



2. No case of river pollution in our district. 



The Salmon Disease — 



No salmon disease in Alness district. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. 25th October. 



2. 1st November and 15th December. 



3. About 25th December. 



4. About hall-flood 



5. Less. 



6. Upper reaches of Alness River. 



Kelts - 



1. About 1st March. 



2. From the middle of March to the end of April. 



3. In the beginning of June. 



4. Flood and half-flood. 



Smolts — 



1. From beginning of April to middle of June. 



2. Fair. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon - 



There is a hatchery at Balnacraig belonging to the Alness Board, which can 

 hatch out over 100,000 ova. This year we secured about 30,000 ova, 

 which have hatched out very well. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 



The water-bailiff cannot give definite information regarding this, except that 

 he noticed, while fishing to secure ova during the spawning season, 

 about six males for every female were landed. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER CON ON. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (a) and (6) Salmon and grilse below the average ; (c) below the 



average; (d) salmon caught with the rod in the Brahan Castle waters, 

 considerably above the average ; in the Fairburn angling waters, about 

 the average ; other angling waters, below the average. 



3. (a) 13th February; (b) March, April, May, and June ; (c) grilse ran from 



the middle of May to the close of the fishing. The main run of sea- 

 trout is in March and April. Clean sea-trout in tidal waters of Conon 

 at all seasons. 



5. (a) Several were caught weighing over 20 lbs.; (h) about 29 lbs.; (c) 



27 lbs. 



Protection — 



3. One permanent inspector and four temporary bailiffs. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



2. There is one dam in this district ; it is not worked in accordance with the 



bye-law, Schedule F. There are two cruives in this district ; they are 

 worked in accordance with the bye-law, Schedule G, regulating the 

 same. 



3. No. 



4. Yes ; at ail times 



6. The Brahan net and cruive fishing have not been worked during the la3t 



nine seasons, whereby large numbers of salmon and grilse have ascended 

 to the angling waters. 



