30 



Appendices to Eighteenth Annual Report 



It will be noticed that in the case of all the large river districts of 

 the East Coast, the number of proprietors is greater than the number 

 of the tenants; that in some cases — Tweed, Forth, and Tay — the pro- 

 portion is almost two to one ; while in one case — the South Esk — a single 

 tenant, who is also a proprietor with seven others, fishes the whole district 

 coast line. This fact is, I think, worthy of notice, for if it should be found 

 there is truth in the statement that the great amount of bag-net 

 fishing in modern times is seriously injuring the fisheries, we are able 

 to see that the injury is, at present, in the hands of a limited number 

 of enterprising tacksmen, and that coast proprietors, by allowing 

 unrestricted netting on the part of their lessees, may, while gaining a 

 personal return by way of rent, be affecting the interests and the 

 personal returns of a very much larger number of proprietors in the 

 inland parts of the district. In the case of the Deveron, the Spey, and 

 the Findhorn, the relative proportion of tacksmen is not so great. In 

 the Wick district, proprietors and tenants are equally balanced. In 

 the districts of Fleet, Brora, and Helmsdale, on the east coast of 

 Sutherland, it will be noticed that, in the interests of angling, the bag- 

 net fishing of the coast has been stopped. The effect of introducing 

 bag-net fishing is said to have been almost immediately experienced in a 

 marked diminution of the number of fish in fresh water. In this con- 

 nection a point of considerable interest arises when we consider the case 

 of the North Esk. The coast of the North Esk district appears to be 

 more closely netted than any other part of Scotland. Reference to the 

 Tables shows that there are 123 nets; and since the coast of the district 

 is only about 9 miles in length, it would appear, if my information is 

 correct, that there must be a net every 1 30 yards. It seems probable, 

 however, that very many of the large number of fish taken are not 

 North Esk fish, and that the same is true of the South Esk, which river 

 might to a considerable extent be described as a sea- trout river. 



An insignificant amount of bag-net fishing is carried on along the 

 North Coast ; and a glance at the Tables is sufficient to show that on 

 the west coasts of Sutherland and Ross-shire each small district is 

 fished by a single lessee from a single proprietor. The only other 

 districts which may be mentioned are the Awe and Loch Fyne. The 

 former, though possessed of a small coast line, has its fishings more 

 broken up amongst both proprietors and tenants than any other 

 district. The latter is remarkable by reason of the number of small 

 fishings which are worked by proprietors. 



It is important now to notice the estimated value of the fishings 

 and the number of men employed. The computations have been based 

 upon the statements as to initial cost and working expenses given in 

 the 13th, 14th, and 15th Annual Reports by my predecessor, Mr. 

 Archer. For the East and North Coasts the estimate is made up as 

 follows : — 



Bag nets (per pair) at . £33 



Working expenses . . ,£49 10s. each, annually. 



Boat to each 7 nets, say . . £18 15s. 



- (5 men to each boat.) 



Fly nets (per pair) . . £35 



Working expenses . . £52 10s. 

 (2 men to 3 nets.) 

 On the West Coast from Cape Wrath to Ardlamont Point. 



Bag nets (per pair) . . £33 



Working expenses . . £41 5s, 



Boat to each 5 nets . . £17 6s. 6d. 

 (5 men to each boat.) 



