of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



153 



' deem it expedient to remove for the benefit of the fisheries in their 

 ' district, and to remove any natural obstruction to the passage of 

 ' fish in the bed of a river, or to attach a fish-pass to any waterfall' 



The Tay District Board, who have had this matter under their 

 consideration for the last fifteen years, are unanimous in thinking 

 that the vast extent of water above the falls should be salmonised 

 by the erection of an efficient fish-pass. But, as above stated, they 

 are powerless without the consent of the owners. This, likewise, 

 was the conclusion arrived at by the late Mr Frank Buckland and 

 myself, after a careful examination of the falls in 1870 ; and, at 

 page 19 of our Report of 1871 on the effect of recent legislation on 

 the Salmon Fisheries in Scotland, we write as follows : — ' The Falls 

 ' of Tummel keep the fish out from Loch Tummel, Loch Kannoch, 

 ' Loch Ericht, and Loch Lydoch, and from tributaries that extend 

 ' as far as the deer forest of the Black Mount — in all, from about 

 ' 100 miles of water. The Tummel rushes through a narrow gorge 

 1 between two high rocks with such violence that it is almost im- 

 1 possible for fish to ascend it. The height of the falls is about 15 

 ' feet perpendicular. ... It should be mentioned that salmon 

 ' have occasionally passed these falls, and have been captured in 

 ' Loch Tummel; but these were rare and exceptional instances, and 

 ' in general, the falls act as a complete barrier to the passage of fish 

 ' to the fine and extensive spawning grounds above.' 



Afterwards, on page 22 of the same Report, we write as follows : — 

 ' In conclusion, as regards the legislation relative to natural obstruc- 

 * tions, we agree, in the first place, that the salmon fisheries of Scot- 

 ' land would be greatly improved if the natural obstructions we have 

 ' mentioned were opened up. Could this be done, many hundreds 

 ' of miles of rivers and lochs now destitute of salmon would be 

 ' stocked with these valuable fish, and a vast area of spawning 

 ' ground would be added to the Scotch rivers which would im- 

 ' mensely increase their salmon-producing capabilities. The maps 

 ' in the appendix, showing the extent of water that would be made 

 ' accessible to salmon by opening up the Falls of Tummel and the 

 ' Falls of Mounessie only, will show clearly how much might be 

 ' done by well-applied exertions in this direction. Secondly, We 

 ' think that compulsory power should be given to District Boards 

 ' to make these obstructions passable for salmon, the District Board 

 ' paying the expense. Thirdly, That where a District Board seeks 

 ' for compulsory power to do this, the question should be examined 

 ' publicly by a court held by the Scotch Commissioners, or other 

 ' salmon fishery officials, and that the sanction of the Home Office 

 ' should be given before the necessary operations are undertaken. 

 ' Fourthly, Wherever natural obstructions serve no industrial pur- 

 ' pose, such as diverting water for mills and manufactories, but are 

 ' an impediment and hindrance to the salmon capabilities of the 

 1 Scottish rivers, we think that private rights, founded only on the 

 ' argument of amenity, should give way to the public interest. 

 ' Passes, indeed, may be made over several of thjese falls without 

 ' any diminution of amenity.' 



I have now most carefully inspected, chiefly on foot, the whole of 

 the waters above the Falls of Tummel, and I am therefore in a posi- 



