of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



263 



Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared, as included in 

 the above return, are as follow : — The main run of sea trout was in 

 March and April. There are clean sea trout in the tidal waters in all 

 seasons. The first run of grilse was in the first week in May. 

 4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was, at the 

 bag-net fishery of Hilton, in May, 30 lbs. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £2788 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was Is. 4d. per £ — £185 18s. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are two in number — one permanent inspector, 



and one temporary watcher. 



4. Prosecutions instituted : — None. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — No dam dykes have been dis- 



used or built, nor are any in prospect. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — All the bye-laws have been 



strictly observed. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — No fish passes have been built, nor are 



there any in prospect. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Falls of Conon, Falls of 



Rogie, Falls of Orrin, Falls of Scat well, and Falls of Garve. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. No salmon disease. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning about the last week in October. 



2. The greatest number spawned between 5th and 18th November. 



3. Spawning ceased about the middle of December. 



4. As regards numbers of breeding fish, and state of the water, the past 



spawning season is regarded as considerably above the average of 

 previous seasons. The River Conon was in flood from the beginning of 

 November until the end of the spawning season. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the last week of March. 



2. As a smolt year 1911 was fairly good. 



Note. — The upper proprietors, with a view to improving the angling in the 

 river, have leased the Brahan net and cruives fishings from Seaforth for a number 

 of years, and, in consequence, the nets have not been used on the Brahan fishing 

 during the season of 1911, nor have the cruives been fished. The fishing boxes 

 at the upper and lower cruives have been kept fully open for the free run of 

 salmon to the angling waters above. The angling on the Brahan and Fairburn 

 waters during the spring was very good. From the opening of the fishing on 

 the 11th February until the end of April over 300 salmon were secured by rod 

 and line. This is a record for these angling waters. Owing to the dry weather 

 and the lowness of the river during the summer and autumn months, the rod 

 fishing in all parts of the river was poor. 



REPORT FROM ALNESS DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. (a) By fixed engines in the sea— No fixed nets in the district. 



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — A little below the average, 

 (c) By rod and line — Has been much below the average of previous 

 years owing to long-continued dry weather. 



3. Sea trout began to run up the river about the middle of June. July was 



the best month for sea trout. Grilse appeared at the mouth of the 

 river about the middle of June, but the best run was in July and August. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was about 25A 



lbs., by sweep net on the Dalmore fishings about the beginning of 

 August. 



