PART II.— REPORT ON SALMON FISHERIES. 



During the summer and autumn of 1888, Mr Young, the 

 Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, inspected the Rivers and Lochs in 

 the Black Mount — which he had not previously visited — and in 

 other parts of Argyleshire ; also in Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, and 

 on the north and west coasts of the county of Sutherland. His 

 Report which has been presented to the Board forms the Appendix 

 to this Report. After having given it careful consideration, it has 

 been generally approved by the Board. 



It cannot be said that the Salmon Fishery for 1888 has been, 

 on the whole, a successful one, either for nets or rods ; although 

 in some places there has been, during part of the season, good 

 netting and excellent angling. 



In the course of the year, 22,859 boxes of Scotch salmon were 

 sent to Billingsgate market, or the smallest quantity that has been 

 sent since 1880, when only 17,457 boxes were despatched. The 

 numbers since then are as follows 



Mr Young's 

 Inspection in 

 1888. 



Salmon 

 Fishery 

 of 1888 not, 

 on the whole, 

 successful. 



Number of 

 boxes of Scotch 

 salmon sent to 

 Billingsgate. 



1881, 

 1882, 

 1883, 

 1884, 

 1885, 

 1886, 

 1887, 



23,905 boxes 



22,968 „ 



35,506 „ 



27,219 „ 



30,362 „ 



23,407 „ 



26,907 „ 



The average of these 7 years is 28,610 boxes ; so that the yield 

 of last year is considerably below the average. 



Estimated value of Scotch Salmon for 1888. 



If £5, 5s. is taken as the value of the box of salmon, this repre- 

 sents a value £120,009, and if there is added as much more as the 

 value of the salmon consumed in Scotland and sent from Scotland 

 elsewhere than to London, £240,018 is got as the value of the Scotch. 

 Salmon Fisheries in 1888. 



Fishings on the Tay. — The following is the rental of the salmon 

 fishings on the Tay, the chief salmon river in Scotland, during the 

 last 6 years : — 



1883, 

 1884, 

 1885, 

 1886, 

 1887, 

 1888, 



£17,773 2 O 



19,655 14 5 



20,417 0 2 



22,542 2 8 



22,143 16 7 



19,655 0 0 



