42 



Appendices to Twenty -sixth Annual Report 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the second week of 



April. 



2. As a smolt year 1907 was not quite an average one. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon— 



1. The number of ova secured locally during the past season was : — On the 



Helmsdale, 930,000 ; on the Brora, 58,000. 



2. Tn securing ova the numbers of male and female tish captured were 



respectively : — No two collectors had the same result ; great variation. 



REPORT FROM THURSO DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. As compared with the average results of previous years, the take of fish 



generally throughout the district has been poor. 

 More particularly it has been 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea, 425 salmon, 860 grilse, 

 (c) By rod and line, 209 salmon. 

 Total, 634 salmon, 860 grilse. 



2. The actual number of fish caught has been as follows : — 



(a) By fixed engine, 1285. 

 (c) By rod and line, 209. 

 Total, 1494. 



3. Expressed in numbers for each month of the season, so as to show the 



times of greatest run, the figures are : — 



Feb. March. Apl. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. 



By fixed engine, 2*0 8*0 15*5 56'5 18*0 



By rod and line, . 4*3 32-5 24'8 22'4 1'5'7 



Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared, as included in 

 the above return, are as follow : — In the sea fishings only 6 grilse 

 were caught in the month of May, this number rising to 89 in June. 

 The highest number was reached in July, when 565 were caught ; 

 falling again in August to 199. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 25 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Caught by rod and 



line in beat 7 of Thurso River, on 13th April 1907. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1906 was £1799. 



2. The assessment levied was £134 18s. 6d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 6 in number 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes built : — Lochmore dam. Constructed, but has fish-pass. 

 There is no obstruction to the passage of fish. 



3. Fish passes built : — Lochmore fish pass. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — None. 



Pollutions— 



None. 



The Salmon Disease- 

 No disease. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 22nd October. 



2. The greatest number spawned on the upper reaches. 



3. Spawning ceased on 20th November. 



4. As regards numbers of breeding fish, and state of the water, the past 



spawning season is regarded as — water good, season fair. 



