of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



37 



III. — Disease among Fish. 



Statistics as to salmon disease in Spey district were, as usual, noted on 

 Fiddich. The percentage of deaths to the number of spawning beds counted 

 upon this stream during the spawning season of Last year was 9 per cent., 

 against 7 per cent, for the previous year. These percentages have varied 

 during'the last 15 years from G to 21 per cent., the average being about 15 per 

 cent. The number of spawning beds counted upon this stream last year was 

 525. The number of dead or diseased fish was 47. The fish affected were — 

 1 male sea-trout, 17 male and 1 female grilse, and 28 male salmon. They 

 were all spawned fish. The first death was observed on 16th November 1901. 

 The deaths from disease were most prevalent on 20th February 1902. 



IV. — Poaching during the Year. 



V. — Bye-laivs. 



The bye-laws relating to dam dykes, mill lades, hecks, cic, were fairly well 

 attendecl to last year. The dyke at Rothiemurchus sawmill on Druie, 

 complained of last year, has had some repairs carried out upon it, but it is not 

 yet conform' to the bye-law requirements, and there is now less obstruction to 

 ascending fish. 



VI. — General RemarJa^. 



The new mouth run formed at Druie last year has kept its improved 

 position very well. The work has improved the water lead very much for 

 drawing fish from the Spey into excellent spawning grounds on Druie and its 

 tributaries. Inspector Brown and Bailiff G. Morrison carried out a day's work 

 with drags, &c., two or three weeks ago, in furtherimproving the new mouth, and 

 in the meantime it is in first-class order. 



The sea coast and river net salmon fishing opened for the season on 11th 

 February, and closed again for the yearly close time on 26th August, The 

 weekly close times were regularly inspected by the Superintendent, the 

 Inspector, and Constable R. Sivewright, Speymouth. There was much stormy 

 weather during the season. 



During the months of November and December 1901, His Grace the Duke 

 of Richmond and Gordon's salmon hatchery at Fochabers was stocked with 

 860,000 salmon ova, which were successfully hatched in March and April 1902. 

 The fry, with the exception of 30,000, which were retained to be put into the 

 rearing ponds at Tugnet, were introduced to the river Spey near Fochabers in 

 July last. Those which were placed in the rearing ponds will be kept there 

 until they become smolts, when they will be put into the river. 



The full force of bailiffs or Spey police is constituted as follows : — The 

 Superintendent, residing in Aberlour ; the Inspector, stationed at Grantown ; 

 eight sergeants, and thirty-six constables. 



GEORGE K. MACGREGOR, Superintendent. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER NAIRN. 



Take of Fish— 



1. (6) Average ; (c) above average ; {d) about average. 



2. (a) None by net and coble ; (b) and (c) no information available. 



3. (a) 11th February ; (fe) April and May ; (c) sea-trout in June and July, 



grilse in August and September. 



I) 



