of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



25 



General Question — 



The question of the size of the Duke of Fife's cruives has been submitted on 

 special case between His Grace and the Board for the determination of 

 the First Division of the Court of Session. The case is expected to be 

 heard before the close of the year. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER SPFY. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (a), (6), (c), and (d) About an average for salmon, but grilse scarce. 



3. (a) 11th February ; (6) salmon plentiful all the season ; (c) grilse during 



July ; sea-trout May ; both very scarce this season. 

 5. (a) 44 lbs. ; (6) 40 lbs. ; (c) 37 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. Assessable rental, year 1896-97, £9637, 15s. 



2. Assessment levied, 2s. 4d. per £ = £1124, 8s. Id. 



3. One superintendent, one inspector, and forty-four bailiffs. 



4. See Keport. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



1. One old dam dyke and fish pass overhauled and improved on the Dullan 



at Pittyvaich Distillery, Dufftown. 



2. No cruive dyke in use in the district during the season. 



3. Yes. 



5. Yes generally. 

 Pollutions — 



1. Distilleries always increasing in the district, but the pollution from these 



during the last year or two has been somewhat reduced by the distillers 

 introducing filtering systems. Two or three of said filtering systems 

 have not yet been fully finished, but it is expected they will be so 

 before long. 



The Salmon Disease — 

 1 See Report. 



2. Normal. 



3. See Report. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. See Report. 



2. Between 15th October and end of November. 



3. End of February. 



4. Normal. 



5. See Report. 



6. See Report. 



Kelts— 



1. 26th November. 



2. February. 



3. J une to August. 



4. Somewhat high 



Smolts — 



1. See Report. 



2. See Report. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 



Yes. See Report on Duke of Richmond and Gordon's hatchery at 

 Fochabers. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 



In the upper reaches of the river the males and females may be about equal 

 in number ; in the lower the females largely predominate. 



