26 



Appendices to Seventh Annual Report 



The River Borgie, net and coble, from 1st May till 26th August. 

 The River Naver, net and coble, from 1st May till 26th August. 

 The River Strathy, fixed nets in the bay, from 1st April till 26th 



August. 



The River Halladale, fixed nets in the bay, from 1st April till 26th 

 August. 



The River Halladale, net and coble in river mouth, from 15th April 

 till 26th August. 



2. Nevertheless, I would add 11 days to the annual close time from the 15th 



August, as very few spawning fish enter the rivers after the 15th September. 



3. The close time for trout to be the same as for salmon. Rod fishing for 



salmon, and trout as well, commences on 10th January, ends on 31st 

 September. 



Weekly Close Time. 



4. The present weekly close time is quite sufficient. 



5. The weekly close time, by net and coble, is strictly observed on the coasts. 



6. The weekly close time, by bag-nets, is not so strictly observed. 



II. 



Take of Fish, 



1. The take of fish has diminished since 1862, more especially in the Hope, 



Naver, and Borgie rivers, where no fixed nets are set within 7 miles of said 

 rivers, and net and coble fishing does not begin till the 1st May. So that 

 those rivers are not closely fished, and this is the most unproductive season 

 in the memory of the oldest fisherman in the district. It appears that the 

 less the rivers are netted, the fish decrease in numbers. When cruives, net 

 and coble, were in full swing from November till 15th August, the fishings 

 were more productive. 



2. About an average o£ 600 salmon and 6000 grilse by net and coble. 

 About an average of 700 salmon and 7000 grilse by fixed nets. 

 Cannot state the number of fish caught by rods. 



III. 



Ban of Fish. 



Hope River. — Clean salmon taken by rod in February ; main take in May. 

 Borgie River. — Clean salmon in January ; main take in May. 

 Naver River. — Clean salmon in October, November, January ; main take 

 in May. 



Grilse are generally got about the 1st May. Some years, in April, in the 

 Naver and Halladale ; main run of grilse from the 22nd June till the 25th July. 



Hope River and the Kyle of Tongue are the only rivers in this district where 

 sea-trout are at all abundant. May, J une and July are the best months. 



VII. 



Regulation of Draft Nets. 



The English Salmon Fisheries Act, I consider not adapted for Scotland. 

 With the exception of a few rivers, such as the Forth, Tay, Spey, Ness, and 

 perhaps the Kyle of Sutherland, most of the rivers in Scotland are too narrow 

 and small for such an Act to deal with in a proper and just manner. By only 

 three-fourths of a river to be enclosed by net from either side would enhance 

 the value of one fishing at the expense of the one opposite. W hat is at present 

 a valuable fishery, would in many cases become of no value whatever. 



VIII. and IX. 



No dams, weirs, or cruives on any of the rivers in this district. 

 No waterfalls to obstruct the run of salmon to the upper waters. 



X. 



Penalties for Offences. 

 I do think there should be a minimum as well as a maximum penalty for 

 offences under the Salmon Fishery Act. 



