26 



Appendices to Tioenty -eighth Annual Report 



were empowered to examine into the title by which each salmon fixed net 

 was used, and to grant certificates to such persons as proved their right to 

 use fixed nets. As a result, certificates were granted, exclusive of poke 

 nets in the Annan neighbourhood, to 80 fixed engines carrying 209 

 pockets, and the situation of each net was indicated. One is able, 

 therefore, with a certain amount of confidence to distinguish whether or 

 not in a given locality the full number of certificated engines are being 

 fished, and by further enquiry it is generally possible, in cases where more 

 than the certificated number appear to be present, to identify the salmon 

 nets proper and to determine which nets are called white-fish nets. 



In my annual inspection in 1909 I endeavoured to see almost all the 

 salmon nets and white-fish nets of the various Sol way districts, and 

 subsequently I communicated with the District Fishery Boards of Annan, 

 Nith, and Dee, and with those in other districts, where Boards do not exists 

 who might be likely to inform me as to the number of w T hite-fish nets. 

 From the answers received I am able to supply the following list : — 



List of Stake Nets in Sol way, called White-fish Nets. 

 [Autumn 1909.] 



District. 



Annan, 



Nith, 



Dee, 

 Fleet, 



Cree, 



Bladen och, 



No. of Nets. 



No. of Pockets. 



10 



66 



None 

 4 



1 

 1 



24 



66 



Detail?. 



3 with 4 pockets. 



1 „ 3 „ 

 3 „ 2 „ 



3 1 pocket. 

 26 in Nith Estuary. 

 40 on Blackshaw Bank. 



2 in Oarrick Bav. 

 2 in Fleet Bay. 



In Estuarv of Cree. 



82 nets with 96 pockets. 



It therefore appears that there are, or were at the date of this return, 

 rather more white-fish nets than certificated salmon nets. One may 

 presume that, in view of the interdict granted at Dumfries in February of 

 this year, and already referred to, the number of nets in the Nith district 

 has since diminished. 



I specially wish to observe that it not infrequently happens that the 

 plan or design of the " white-fish nets " and the plan of the salmon nets in 

 the same district or neighbourhood is identical. As a matter of fact, 

 considerable variation exists amongst salmon nets in neighbouring 

 districts of the Solway. Yet in one district the salmon and the white-fish 

 nets may be and commonly are exactly alike. 



The ground-plan of the three salmon nets which project into the tidal 

 section of the river at Creetown is represented in the illustration. 



These, together with a single net a short distance further down the 

 river, constitute the four Cassencary nets. 



At the time of my visit the Cree was in high flood, and neap tides 

 prevailed. The result was that the furthest out net and all its leader 

 never dried, and could not be visited by the fishermen. Even the central 

 net was to some extent awash, the three or four salmon it contained being 



