of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



83 



mission which reported in 1902 recommend Watershed Boards which 

 will embrace not only fisheries but pollutions and water supplies, and that 

 the Water Power Rescources Committee have arrived at a somewhat 

 similar finding. 



I may perhaps quote the passage from the Salmon Fisheries Commission 

 Report (p. 12) :— 



" It might even be possible to create a Watersheds Board of still larger 

 authority. There are three great subjects for all of which, in our opinion, 

 the watershed is the proper administrative area, i.e. pollution, water 

 supplies, and fisheries. If it ^ere possible to give adequate representa- 

 tion to all the interests concerned in one body, we should have a board 

 of great influence capable of interfering authoritatively in all matters 

 affecting the district, while by the formation of separate Committees the 

 administration of each of the subjects above named might be left in the 

 hands of representatives best qualified to carry it on. The Government 

 alone can decide whether anything of this kind is practicable, but we have 

 thought it right to make the suggestion to mark our sense of the inter- 

 dependence of the different interests specially concerned in the preserva- 

 tion of the purity of our rivers." 



Under the title of " water supply," as above, may be classed abstrac- 

 tion of water, a subject which calls for careful attention at the present 

 time. Apart from the necessary demands of cities and towns for water 

 supply, there is the growing demand for industrial purposes and for the 

 generating of electric or other power. 



The most serious difficulties arise when water is entirely removed from a 

 catchment basin. Less serious consequences are likely to follow when, 

 after removal for temporary use, the water is returned to the natural 

 channels. In the great variety of engineering arrangements which are 

 possible in the use of water, it is, however, also possible to adjust a con- 

 siderable number of plans for the safe-guarding of the fishing interest, 

 and for the minimising of injury. Again, power may be developed 

 from water drawn from areas which salmon cannot at present reach ; or, 

 on the contrary, proposals may involve interference with the natural flow 

 of a valuable salmon-inhabited river. Where no great fall of water 

 level is requisite, an intake at a point well above the power-house or factory 

 may render it unnecessary to erect a dam dyke, as in several instances 

 which could be cited in the upper Don, and in the Leven between Loch 

 Lomond and Dumbarton. 



Considerable developments have, however, been made in recent 

 years in the adjustment of effective fish passes where dam dykes are erected. 

 The general principles upon which efficient passes have to be constructed 

 are more clearly understood than formerly, and in approaching problems 

 which may arise in the future it should be possible to secure a fair amount 

 of compensation by adjustment of plans, if only proper provision be made 

 for the consideration of the claims of the fisheries. In this connection I 

 need hardly point out that compensation in the form of money paid to those 

 who can substantiate claims is of no service whatever to the general 

 interests as expressed by the upkeep of the stock of fish. It is a solatium 

 to the man, but does not benefit the fish. 



In the matter of the generation of power, however, much depends upon 

 whether the power or the water is conveyed away. If water from 

 impassable falls be used, and immediately returned without pollution, 

 practically no harm can result to the fishing interest. I would venture 

 strongly to urge, however, that in all cases where dams and other works 

 are proposed, involving interference with the run of fish to their natural 

 spawning grounds, full opportunity be secured for the adjustment of the 

 best possible plans for safeguarding the fishing interest. 



