Ueport on Salmon Fisheries. 



xi 



Mr. Caiderwood reports that during the past year he inspected ||ep<^^t^ of 

 the sahnon and sea trout tisheries of the Outer Hebrides (Harris saimon^'^ ^ 

 and Lewis), of Orkney and Shetland, and of Wick, Nairn, an^l Fisheries 

 Lossie Districts. The results of these inspections will l.)e found in 

 his Annual Report annexed. 



Answers to the printed (jueries regarding the salmon fisheries of ijistrict 

 the various districts in which lioards exist will be found as^'^^"''^^' 

 formerly in Appendix 1. to Mr. Oalder wood's Eeport. Answers 

 have been received from the following Districts : — Forth, Tay, 

 South Esk, North Esk, Dee (Aberdeen), Don, Ythan, Ugie, Deveron, 

 Spey, Nairn, Ness, Conon, Alness, Kyle of Sutherland, Eastern and 

 Western Districts of Sutherland, Northern Districts of Sutherland, 

 Skye, Lochy, Ayr, Doon, Girvan, Stinchar, Cree, Dee (Solway), 

 Nith, Annan. 



In connection with the serious pollution of the river Girvan and Girvan. 

 the destruction of salmon a special report was received from the 

 Inspector of Salmon Fisheries. 



We have arranged for the publication of a Parliamentary Paper Parliamentary 

 on the important subject of Salmon Disease. This paper has been |Xion " 

 prepared by Mr. J. Hume Patterson, the assistant Bacteriologist to Disease, 

 the City of Glasgow. In it is announced the discovery of the true 

 cause of the disease in the form of a bacillus which has been 

 termed Bacillus scdmoivis jjestis, and without the preliminary action 

 of which upon the tissues of the salmon, or other fresh water fish, 

 the well known fungus Saprolegnio. ferax does not develop. 



Mr. Caiderwood has this year been able to prepare a series of Relative 

 charts which, without giving actual figures supplied to him by the ^^^^ 

 kindness of the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners, the late Dr. Fisheries. 

 Almond and Mr. Charles Turner, Dumfries, show the times of the 

 runs of fish in the respective districts and the relative abundance 

 of salmon, grilse, and sea trout. These charts and a brief report 

 on the results form Appendix II. 



An examination of certain coast fisheries was made during the ^Veekly Close 

 the year for the purpose of ascertaining the extent to which the coTs^^Nets. 

 weekly close time was being observed. On the 28th and 29th 

 June three of the Board's Cruisers and H.M.S. "Jackal" simultan- 

 eously examined separate sections of coast. Mr. Caiderwood 's 

 Report will be found as Appendix III., and shows that of 340 

 fixed nets examined, 147 were at fault in having the nets in full 

 working order during close time. 



The observations as to the growth and migratory habits of the Salmon 

 salmon have been continued by means of marking. During Nov- ^^^^^""g- 

 ember and January last, Mr. Caiderwood conducted netting 

 operations in the river Tay with the assistance of Mr. Johnston 

 and of the Tay Fishing Company, who most liberally helped the 

 observations by means of nets and boats. Fullv 25 ner cent. 3f the 

 fish marked since the pubhcation of the last report on ine suojecn 

 have been recaptured, including several grilse which had on 

 recapture reached the salmon stage. These operations are still to 

 be carried on, however, before the Inspector makes a second report. 

 Mr. Johnston, who has been associated with Mr. Caiderwood in the 

 Tay work, has, however, prepared a short paper, which is published 

 as Appendix IV., on the length of the unspawned salmon and grilse 

 marked in November, 1902. 



