of the Fishery Board or Scotland. 



79 



The year 189G seems to have produced the best spring fishing, and at 

 the same time it is noted that fish were up early and ran quickly. 

 Taking the figures given for the first four months, we find that in this 

 year the mean is 42'. All the other years show a lower temperature, 

 except 1898, which also gives a mean of 42°, feut in examining the 

 readings we notice that this is due to a warm January, and that the 1896 

 readings have February, March, and April warmer than in 1898. An 

 essential factor for successful angling is undoubtedly the presence of a 

 good stock of fish. We see, therefore, that when fish ascend without 

 interruption to the upper Tay in an early season of comparatively warm 

 temperature the best angling results are also reported. 



To show the difference in Spring between the Garry, the Tummel, and 

 the upper Tay the following Table may be given. The readings refer 

 only to the individual dates mentioned in the years 1896, 1898, and 

 1899, but in 1893 the extrefiB range of temperature is given : — 





Garry. 



Tummel. 



Tay. 





Date. 





o 



o 



1893 



Feb. 



38-34 



40-38 







Mar. 



42-33 



43-40 





1896 



10th Jan. . 



34 



36 



38 



1898 



3rd Mar. 



36 



40 



40 



1899 



8th „ 



37 





40 





15th ,, 



42 



43 



44 



11 



22nd 



33 





37 





28th „ 



40 



41 



42 



11 



29th 



40 



41 



42 



11 



27th Apr. 



44 



47 



47 



1902 



27th Oct. 



44 



49 



49 



We are able to notice therefore that, so far as these records show, the 

 order in which fish are found to ascend the three rivers last mentioned is 

 in the order of their thermometric ascension, viz. the Tay, the Tummel, 

 and lastly the Garry. So-called " early " fish ascend the Tay in consider- 

 able numbers before the end of the calendar year. For instance, when, 

 in November 1901, netting -for ova and for purposes of marking was in 

 progress, 14 clean fish were taken. In 1897, while netting for ova, 31 

 clean fish were caught and returned to the water. The majority of the 

 earliest runs appear to ascend the main river steadily as water-level and 

 temperature seem to prompt, and to enter Loch Tay. A certain number 

 of early fish, however, enter both the Lyon and the Tummel. In the 

 latter river, angling seems to show that they stop in the deep pools of 

 Easthaugh Water — the lowest fishing on the Tummel — and do not 

 continue their steady ascent, as fish in the main river do. The Lyon 

 curve shown in the chart, though lower than the GrandtuUy curve 

 during January and February, clings closely to the main river temperature 

 during March and April, and becomes considerably higher than the 

 Grandtully curve in May. On the opening day for rod fishing, 15th 

 January, the Lyon always holds a fair stock of spring fish, and at times is 



