iv 



Report on Salmon Fisheries. 



salmon carried during last season, the details being separated into the 

 four districts already referred to : — 



District. 



Average, 

 1894 to 1898- 



Average, 

 1899 to 1903- 



Average, 

 1904 to 1908. 



Year 1909^ 





Tons. 



Cwts. 



03 

 5- 



0 s 



to 

 ,o 



Hi 



Tons. 



03 

 t 



u 





J 



Tons. 



Cwts. 



CO 



u 



G> 



Ja 



Tons. 



Cwts. 



00 



& 

 ►J 



a Berwick to 



Cairnbulg Point, 

 b Cairnbulg Point 



to Cape Wrath, 

 c Cape Wrath to 



Glasgow, . . * 

 d Glasgow to the 



Border, . . . 



1,206 

 900 

 403 

 260 



18 

 17 



7 

 3 



1 



3 

 1 



2 



1 



6 

 21 

 6 



839 

 737 

 274 

 183 



1 



10 



18 

 6 



2 

 3 

 1 

 1 



9 

 17 

 27 

 19 



887 

 608 

 209 

 160 



8 

 13 

 3 

 9 



2 

 1 



3 

 3 



24 

 19 

 6 

 15 



1,018 

 705 

 229 

 231 



10 

 18 

 15 

 13 



3 



2 

 3 



19 



22 

 26 

 6 



Totals, . . . 



2,771 



7 





6 



2,034 



17 



1 



16 



1,865 



15 



3 



8 



2,185 



18 



2 



17 



In the accompanying chart of curves, the fluctuations of the annual 

 record are shown from the year in which detailed statements were 

 obtained (1894). 



Mr, Calderwood, in his report, draws attention on this occasion to 

 the extent to which fixed nets are used in the Solway for the capture 

 of salmon and for white fish (Appendix III., p. 25). 



The Inspector has also given much attention, during 1909, to the 

 various conditions which govern the construction of successful salmon 

 passes at waterfalls and weirs. His observations are embodied in the 

 First Appendix to his report. 



As a result of the marking of salmon and the study of their scales, 

 which has been undertaken for a considerable number of years, 

 Mr. Calderwood now emphasises the ascertained fact that salmon do not 

 spawn as frequently as was previously supposed, that it is rare to find a 

 salmon showing indications of having spawned more than twice, and 

 that very many appear to spawn only once. The bearing which this 

 has on the capture of fish returning to fresh water to spawn is evid- 

 ently important, and it is with satisfaction that we recognise that the 

 netting of salmon in fresh waters, where they naturally congregate 

 before becoming distributed over the upper river areas, is more and 

 more giving place to the netting of salmon in the sea. In the general 

 interests of the fisheries, we consider that this is a beneficial tendency. 

 At the same time, Mr. Calderwood considers that the stock of salmon 

 in Scotland will not become restored to the former condition of 

 plenty till powers are given for reducing the capture of, grilse and 

 young " maiden " fish. Questions of pollution and the removal or 

 modification of obstructions to the ascent of fish also require attention. 



The reports from District Fishery Boards and others reflect the 

 improvement already noted. In a few instances, returns of the 

 actual numbers of fish caught are supplied. While greatly appreciat- 

 ing the receipt of such statistics, we still are very sensible of the dis- 

 ability under which we suffer in being unable to secure annual 

 statistics from all the districts of Scotland showing the numbers of fish 

 taken. Although the weight of fish represents their commercial 

 value, it is a very poor indication of the number taken, since in 

 certain districts grilse and other small fish greatly predominate. 



As an indication of present rentals in leading districts, the follow- 

 ing table is given. The figure £23,715, given for the Tay, constitutes 



