of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



13 



(c) The distribution of spawning fish would be better than at 



present, the streams of the Arkaig district being made 

 as accessable as the Roy is at present. 



(d) To open up the falls of Moressie and Inverlair on the 



Spean would be works of immense magnitude. 



The strong argument, from my point of view, is the increase of • 

 stock of salmon which would result, in a few years, from the 

 better distribution of salmon and the fuller use of the fine spawn- 

 ing grounds of the Arkaig district. With this increase secured I 

 do not believe that the fishings of Mucomer and the lower Lochy 

 would be materially affected, although a falling off might be notice- 

 able for a few years. At the same time new and valuable spring 

 angling would have been brought into existence, and the District 

 Board provided with a new source of revenue for carrying on the 

 policing of a wider area, and for regulating the fishings of the 

 district as a whole. 



It might be possible even to close the pass against summer 

 and autumn fish, and this should entirely or almost entirely 

 meet the possible objections of those who fish the Spean. It 

 might interfere with the ascent of sea trout as well as salmon, 

 but the compensation would be in securing spring salmon 

 instead of summer sea trout ; but very many sea trout would 

 no doubt get through a heck placed at the outlet or lower 

 end of the pass. 



I submit these considerations, and would respectfully suggest 

 that they be given some thought by those who are primarily 

 interested in the matter. In my opinion the best interests of the 

 Lochy district as a whole, apart from the consideration of any one 

 section of it, would be served by the construction of a really 

 efficient pass at Mucomer. 



Helmsdale. 



From time to time reference has been made to the storing of 

 head waters so as to have at command a supply sufficient to form 

 artificial floods when rivers fall low. In my last year's report I 

 described one of the artificial floods of the Helmsdale which I was 

 fortunate enough to witness, and in my report for 1904 I gave 

 particulars and a plan of the dam dyke, sluices, and fish-way at 

 Badanloch. 



I desire now to give such particulars as are available to show 

 the result of the water storage and of the removal of nets from the 

 district. The history of the river shows that in early days netting 

 was regularly carried on in the river mouth, while rod fishing — 

 fly being alone used — was steadily practised from February to 

 May, and to a less extent during the summer months. Then came 

 five years of bag-net fishing on the coast on either side of the 

 river mouth, a year before the end of which net and coble fishing 

 ceased. The cessation of all netting was secured by the Helmsdale 

 tenants in 1900. In July, 1901, the Badanloch dam was brought 

 into play, and since that date both this dam and the less important 

 dam on Loch Ruathair have been maintained in steady use. 



