of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



7 



In the case of the Garry, the consent of the Duke was 

 obtained to the modification of three falls in the vicinity of Struan, 

 the two falls commonly called the Struan Falls or the Garry Falls, 

 and a lesser fall about two miles further up. 



The upper Garry is not a particularly good spawning stream, 

 being in much of its course very rocky. It is doubtful, therefore, 

 if the entire removal of the falls — apart from considerations of 

 their natural beauty — would have been advisable. They have 

 always been possible of ascent to strong fish. The attempt 

 recently made was to increase the facilities for ascent rather than 

 entirely to remove the obstacle. I visited the falls on two occa- 

 sions in May, and after consultation it was decided to continue a 

 series of small blasting operations, and, by noting the water flow, 

 to determine when these operations might cease. To do this 

 demanded that someone should from time to time visit the falls, 

 and at the suggestion of His Grace and Mr. Forbes, the factor for 

 the Atholl Estates, Mr. H. W. Johnston, who knows the river 

 intimately, and who accompanied me on each occasion, kindly 

 undertook to supervise the operations. The work was carried 

 through under contract, and was directed by Mr. Swan, the Atholl 

 Clerk of Works. The cost was borne by the District Fishery 

 Board. 



The river continued high through much of the summer, which not 

 only interfered with the work, but made the observation of ascending 

 fish difficult. When opportunity offered during the spawning 

 season an examination of the upper river was made, and a con- 

 siderable number of fish were counted. Further opportunity will 

 be taken to note results, and, should it be considered necessary, 

 further modification can be made. 



North Esk. 



In my last year's report, in dealing with the present extent of 

 net and coble fishing in Scotland, I mentioned that netting is 

 carried on from the river mouth to Marychurch Bridge, a distance 

 of nearly five miles. I then referred to the two dam dykes which 

 exist in this stretch of water, and in mentioning Craigo dyke I 

 made the statement that it has long been complained against as a 

 serious obstacle to the ascent of salmon, and that the lower 

 proprietors had so far declined to modify it. I have since learned 

 that the last statement is not correct, and that reference to the lower 

 proprietors as declining to modify the dyke or fish-pass is not 

 warranted by the facts of the case. I desire, therefore, to make 

 this acknowledgment. 



Lochy. 



The natural conditions of this river in its outflow from Loch 

 Lochy were materially altered about a hundred years ago, when 

 the southern end of the Caledonian Canal was constructed. The 

 original outlet and course of the upper river is shown in the 



B 



