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l^hirty-Jirst Annual Report 



The chart of curves shows the annual fluctuations since the year 

 1891, the year in which detailed statements were first obtained. In 

 the statement for last season, it is proper to mention, 41 tons 8 cwts. 

 reported as having been carried by Messrs. MacBrayne's steamers, and 

 railed from Mallaig and Oban, have been entered also from the re- 

 spective railway stations. The reason for doing so is, that in the 

 return furnished by the North British Railway Co. only 2 qrs. 23 lbs. 

 are given as having been sent off from Mallaig. The total entered 

 against Oban is 34 tons 3 cwts., which is in harmony with the figure 

 usually reported as railed there. 



It is impossible to secure absolute accuracy in making these returns, 

 since we are not furnished with reports of the numbers of fish cap- 

 tured, and have to rely upon the courtesy of the railway and steam- 

 ship companies for such information as we possess as to the weight 

 of salmon carried. 



The return as to weight of salmon is valuable, but in districts 

 where grilse, rather than large adult salmon, form the bulk of the 

 catch, a very inadequate view of the state of matters is given by 

 returns of weight alone. It has been pointed out by the Inspector of 

 Salmon Fisheries that in certain districts, notably in the Pentland 

 Firth, 7 or 8 grilse are commonly taken for every salmon, and that, in 

 good grilse years, 12 and even 13 grilse to every salmon may be taken. 

 A great decline in the number of grilse may obtain without this 

 being shown in any adequate way by the return of weight carried. A 

 single 20 lb. salmon corresponds in weight to four or five grilse. 

 Further, the decline in the total catch is first shown in the reduction 

 of what Mr. Calderwood has described as the natural overplus of 

 grilse, and the decline which is at present going on is chiefly a decline 

 of grilse, the adolescent fish upon which future supplies very largely 

 depend. In some districts grilse do not form a very important 

 section of the catch, but here again it seems to be the case, as the 

 Inspector has deduced from early records to which he has had access, 

 that not only did salmon and grilse occur in vastly greater numbers in 

 the early days, but the rate of decline is considerably greater in the 

 case of grilse than of salmon ; the relative proportions of young to 

 adult fish change to the marked disadvantage of the grilse, and hence 

 of the ultimate stock. 



Apart from the general aspect of the question, the same difficulty 

 in lack of statistics arises when consideration has to be given to any 

 particular district. We still require more knowledge on the relation 

 in which the stock of one river district may bear to that of another, 

 but when questions such as, for instance, a proposed alteration of close 

 time are being considered, it commonly happens that there is no 

 information of a precise kind as to the actual condition of the stock 

 of salmon in the district. The objection on the part of tenants of 

 salmon fisheries is no doubt that a knowledge of the actual takes will 

 possibly affect rentals ; but if the collection of statistics were 

 placed in our hands their confidential treatment would be assured. 

 [Referring to this need, the last Royal Commission on Salmon 

 Fisheries state in their Report (1902 Report, p. 16): — " We think 

 " that this is a case where the public advantage ought to outweigh 

 ^' the private objection, and that powers should be given to the 

 " Central Authority in England and Scotland respectively to obtain 



