of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



269 



Within this ile ther is gud take of salmont upon 5 watters principally, to 

 wit, the watter of Sneisport, Sligachan, Straitswardill, Kanlagallan, and 

 Kilmtyne, with seven or aught uther smallar watters, quherupon salmont are 

 also slayne. In this ile, there is a freshe water loche, callit the loche of 

 Glenmoire, quheron ther is abundance of salmont and kipper slayne. 



In Martin's Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, also, 

 (second edition, published in 1716), there is the following statement : — 



There are many rivers in all quarters of the isle, about 30 of them afford 

 salmon. 



I select from the answers to the printed queries circulated in Skye, 

 before I commenced my personal inspection, those sent in by two 

 gentlemen long resident in the island, and intimately acquainted with the 

 fisheries. These will shew how very different are the views which may be 

 entertained by individuals of intelligence and ability, both of whom have 

 had ample opportunities of observation. The first of these gentlemen thinks 

 that there should be no weekly slap in Skye, as the fishing is all by bag-nets. 

 He states that the fishing tenants fish in the Minch, a very dangerous 

 sea and coast, and it would be better to take some time off the beginning 

 of the fishing season than to have a weekly slap. The catch of fish has 

 increased because more of the island has been fished by bag-nets. There 

 is no fishing by net and coble, and there are no stake-nets. Not above 

 20 salmon and grilse are caught annually by the rod on the Skye rivers, 

 and most of these are caught on the Snizort. The principal fishing is of 

 grilse, which lasts about six weeks from the time they appear until the 

 time they go off. If they commence in June they go off quicker ; if, 

 in the beginning of July, they continue later; and, in some exceptionally 

 late seasons, they last through August. In the Minch, there is a run of 

 September fish, more or less, every year. There is no need of a District 

 Board in the Island of Skye ; proprietors, factors, and their servants 

 being quite sufficient. He considers that the proprietors having material 

 interest should have power to prosecute if necessary with the same powers 

 as the District Boards. He thinks there should be no restriction in Skye 

 as to the mode of fishing, the season is generally so short in which the 

 weight of fish is on the coast. Without fixed nets, hardly any fish would 

 be killed in Skye. No appearance of salmon-disease has been seen in Skye. 



The answers sent in by the other gentleman present a very different 

 view of the fisheries, especially as regards the question of fixed nets from 

 that summarised above. The following is an epitome of his opinions : — 



I think, now that salmon are taken at so many points along the coast, and 

 that fixed engines are permitted so close to the mouths of rivers, and that 

 in consequence so few fish have a chance of entering, a longer weekly close- 

 time is necessary. I have good reason to know that the Bye-laws regulating 

 the observance of the weekly close-time are not strictly observed in my district. 

 It appears to me that when a department of the Government has been appointed 

 to take these fisheries under their charge, they should not be left as they now 

 are at the mercy of parties whose interest it is to violate the laws made to 

 restrain them. I would suggest for the purpose of enforcing the Weekly Close- 

 time and the Salmon Fishery Laws, the appointment of intelligent fishermen 

 here and there, under the superintendence of the existing Fishery Officers, who 

 are men of intelligence, and would see to the enforcing of the law, if the 

 authority and means were given them. I have no certain information as to 

 whether the take of fish has increased or diminished within a recent period. 

 But I know that the salmon fishings in this parish have, on various occasions, 

 been fished out so completely, that they were for years entirely abandoned. 

 I know that there is nothing like the same quantity of fish in fresh waters 

 that there used to be ; and in various places where salmon used to be, there 

 are none now to be seen at any time. I have no means of knowing the 

 number of salmon taken in fixed engines. But I know that fish are so 



