of the Fishery Board jor Scotland. 



39 



REPORT FROM UGIE DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



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



generally throughout the district has been under the average of former 

 seasons, especially grilse, which were reported to be very scarce, but the 

 salmon has been better than season 1908. 



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



(a) By fixed engine — 1000 salmon and 800 grilse. 

 (6) By sweep net — 2000 sea trout. 



(c) By rod and line — 1300 finnock, 150 sea trout, and 40 salmon. 



3. Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared are as follow : — 



Grilse made their appearance in this district about the middle of June, 

 and went off about the end of July. Sea trout made their appearance 

 about the end of June, and continued during July, August, September, 

 and October. There was a very good run of sea trout, much better than 

 in season 1908. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was (1) 46 lbs. 



by fixed engines, and (2) 22 lbs. by rod and line. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — (1) By fixed engines at 

 the mouth of the river Ugie, in September 1909 ; (2) by rod and line in 

 the river Ugie, in October 1909. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £757. 



2. The assessment levied was £58 7s. 2d., being at the rate of Is. 6|d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 5 in number — 1 regular man, who has the 



assistance of 4 gamekeepers of Colonel Ferguson of Pitfour, when on 

 their beats. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — There was 



one prosecution, which was against George M'Rae, baker, Longside, 

 Aberdeenshire, for fishing for and killing sea trout on Colonel Ferguson's 

 water without having a license to do so. The accused was fined a 

 nominal penalty of 2s. 6d. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect — None. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — None. The existing fish passes afford a 



free and natural passage to fish at all times. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of November 1908, 

 and reached its height in the beginning of January 1909. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in the beginning of May 1909. 

 - 2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was as 

 follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, 6 12 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 17th November 1908. 



2. The greatest number spawned during the period between 26th November 



and 18th December 1908. 



3. Spawning ceased between the last week of December 1908 and the first 



week of January 1909. 



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



spawning season is regarded as a very satisfactory one. There was a 

 good stock of spawners forward, the river being favoured with little 

 spates to take them on to the spawning ground. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the beginning of April 



1909. ° 1 



2. As a smolt year 1909 was very good. The tidal portion was full from the 



end of April up to the end of May 1909. 



