of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



303 



The weekly-close time never has been kept in this district by the bag-nets. 

 One can hardly judge whether it is sufficient. I have sent privately to see 

 bag-nets during several years, and they tish, so far as I can make out, Sunday 

 a ad Saturday. They have always some excuse for not taking up the leaders. 

 The close-time might be earlier on Saturday, so as to give more time and less 

 excuse for not taking up leaders. There is little difference in take of fish for 

 last 10 years. But there is no doubt that the fish have fallen off in proportion 

 as bag-nets have increased, which was more than 10 years ago. It is the bag- 

 nets and their unfair fishing which has, in my opinion, destroyed the fishing 

 here. 



As to the run of fish he writes — 



The first clean bull-trout are in March and April. Other sort of sea-trout 

 in April and May. Chief run of salmon, end of July and in August. Salmon 

 and grilse begin to run up Baa River from 20th June to 1st July. 



Of District Boards he says — 



There was a District Board, but it was impossible to work it, and so it died. 

 I think there are three districts in Mull. One would have been enough ; and, 

 in fact, the Lochy District should have Mull attached to it, as all the fish 

 pass Mull on their way to the Linnhe Loch. The most valuable bag-nets in 

 Mull are those which catch passing fish as well as Mull river fish. Mull 

 rivers are small and not of much value comparatively. If the Lochy Board 

 included Mull, they would keep things in better order. 



In answer to the question concerning fixed nets, he writes — 



I consider that in rocky shores it is fair that there should be bag-nets (I 

 have none myself). I am satisfied that they are useful for the supply of fish to 

 market. But they destroy an unfair share as worked here. They should 

 have a few hours longer close-time, and, at any rate they should be obliged 

 to repay as much close-time on other days as they take and reap the advantage of 

 hy being unable to take up their leaders during the appointed close-time. They 

 would manage better were that the case, and would suffer nothing. I have 

 known a boat go and see them set when they said they could not get a boat to 

 take up leaders. At present they pay no attention unless they like. The 

 repayment of time is the only fair way to all. 



The other gentlemen to whose answers I refer is a proprietor, both of 

 bag-net and of river fishings in Mull. 



He suggests that, in Mull, the last day for rod-fishing, should be the 30th 

 September, instead of, as at present, the 31st October, because the fish come 

 up the rivers to spawn about the first week of October. He is in favour of a 

 close-time for trout from 1st October to 1st April. He also suggests that, in 

 each District, a law should be in force to the following effect, viz., in the event 

 of its being too stormy to take up the leaders on the prescribed days, for the 

 weekly close-time, namely from 6 p.m. on Saturday to 6 a.m. on Monday, that 

 a time corresponding should be fixed during the week for the weekly close- 

 time. There should be only one District Board for the whole Island of Mull, 

 and this Board should have the regulation of all fisheries both in salt and fresh 

 water, including all kinds of shell-fish. The system of protection is at present 

 quite inefficient. There are no watchers whatever. As all District Boards are 

 always deficient in funds, there should be a 10s. or £1 license imposed on every 

 salmon angler, and the monies so collected should be handed over to the Clerk 

 of the Board for carrying on its work. With regard to the meshes of nets, this 

 gentleman is of opinion that the salmon mesh in Scotland (namely three- 

 quarters of an inch from knot to knot, or 7 inches measured round the mesh 

 when wet), is too small. It should be as in England, 2 inches from knot to 

 knot, or 8 inches round the mesh. Numbers of small fish, he says, considerably 

 under 3 lbs. in weight, are oftentimes found hanging in the present meshes. 

 He has himself repeatedly observed this. 



This gentleman also adverts to the habitual non-observance of the 

 weekly close-time by bag-nets, and to the systematic poaching for sea- 



