of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



48 



3. Sea trout run in June and July ; salmon and grilse, August and September 

 Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appear are as follow : — 



Grilse appeared on 22nd May. Clean sea trout can be got in this 

 river at any period of the open season. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 45 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Caught during August 



in the sea nets at Easter Delnies. 



Protection- 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £1205 8s. 



2. The assessment levied was Is. 6d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are two in number, one being permanent, and 



the other being engaged during the close season. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — None. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. No disease. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 3rd November. 



2. The greatest numbei spawned 10th November to 12th December. 



3. Spawning ceased in middle of January. 



4. Number of breeding fish above average ; state of water (half flood on 



average) good ; spawning good. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April, and disappeared on 



18th June. 



2. As a smolt year 1909 was above average. 



REPORT FROM NESS DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. State whether the take of fish has been above or below the average of 

 previous years — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — Above average, 

 (c) By rod and line — 855 (about average). 



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



Sea trout appeared in the month of March. Grilse appeared in the 

 month of May. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 52 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Cromarty, March, in 



bag-net. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was .£3532 15s. 



2. The assessment levied was £323 16s. 8d. 



3. The water bailiff's employed are 4 in number. 



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



Paterson, Cromarty fishings, breach of weekly close time ; case found not 

 proven. Roderick Paterson, pilot, Kessock, taking 87 sea trout in 

 Beauly Firth by means of illegal net ; boat and net forfeited, and 

 expenses. John Jack, fisherman, Avoch, taking 7 sea trout with four 

 hang nets in Moray Firth at Avoch ; fined £2 10s. 



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. 



D 



