of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



41 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £9396 15s. 



2. The assessment levied was £1223 10s. 8d., being at 2s. 7£d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 47 in number. 



4. Particulars as to proceedings instituted are briefly as follow : — Two persons 



were brought before the Sheriff of Inverness charged with poaching 

 offences. They were convicted and sentenced to fines and expenses 

 amounting to £3 7s. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect — No change during the year. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Not always as well as could be 



wished. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of October, and 



reached its height in December. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in May. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the Fiddich and destroyed was 298, 



as follows : — 51 male and 8 female sea trout, 177 male and 40 female 

 grilse, 15 male and 7 female salmon ; mostly all spawned, 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, . . . . . . 243 55 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 26th September 1908. 



2. The greatest number spawned in November 1908. 



3. Spawning ceased at end of March 1909. 



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



spawning season is regarded as one of the best. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April 1909. 



2. As a smolt year 1909 was good. 



REPORT FROM LOSSIE DISTRICT. 



Protection - 



1. Contribution by His Grace the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, K.G., 

 £76 18s. 7d. ; contribution by Captain J. Brander Dunbar of Pit- 

 gaveny, £15. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 3 in number, superintended by the Spey 



District superintendent. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — No case 



taken before the Court during the year. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect — No change. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case 1 — Pretty well. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — No change. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Kellas rocks or falls. 

 Pollutions— 



2. Remedial measures : — Elgin City sewerage purification works. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in December. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in May and June. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was 27, as 



follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, 15 12 



