of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 



There are two hatcheries in the district ; one capable of hatching 150,000 ova, 

 belonging to the Board, the other supported by private enterprise capable 

 of hatching 80,000. The former is newly erected ; the latter has been 

 in use for upwards of three year?. 



No. 



General Question — 



The District Board would again direct the attention of the Fishery Board to 

 the destruction to fish occasioned by the illegal mode of fishing pursued 

 in the Cromarty Firth, and to which reference is made in the Appendix 

 to the Fourteenth Annual Report of the Fishery Board (see Part II., p. 52). 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER CONON. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (a) and (b) Salmon considerably above the average ; grilse a little above 



the average ; (c) and (d) above the average. 

 3. (a) 11th February ; (6) June and July ; (c) grilse ran from the beginning 



of May to the close of the fishing. The main run of sea-trout is in 



March and April. Clean sea- trout in tidal waters of Conon at all 



seasons. 



5. (a) Several were caught weighing about 24 lbs. ; (b) about 30 lbs. ; (c) 

 about 23 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. One permanent inspector and four temporary bailiffs. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



2. The cruives in this district have not been fished in 1896. 



3. There is one dam in this district ; it is not worked in accordance with the 



bye-law, Schedule F. There are two cruives in this district ; they are 

 worked in accordance with the bye-law, Schedule G, regulating the 

 same. 

 5. Yes ; at all times. 



7. The Brahan net and cruive fishing have not been worked during the last 

 seven seasons, whereby large numbers of salmon and grilse have ascended 

 to the angling waters. 



The Spawning Season — 



1 . About the 8th October. 



2. Between the 1st and 15th November. 



3. About 6th December. 



4. Half-flood and low. 



5. There was a splendid show of salmon and grilse on all the spawning 



streams of the rivers Conon, Blackwater, Orrin, and Meig. The numbers 

 were fully up to the two previous spawning seasons. 



6. There are good spawning grounds in the Eiver Conon from the tidal 



waters, and in the tributaries Blackwater, Orrin, and Meig. 



Kelts— 



1. In the beginning of March. 



2. From the middle of March to the end of April 



3. About the beginning of June. 



4. Flood, half-flood, and low. 



Smolts — 



1. March, April, May, and June 



2. Yes ; very good. 



D 



