44 Appendices to Twenty -eighth Annual Report 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



its height in February. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in March. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was 129, 



as follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, 115 14 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 28th October. 



2. The greatest number spawned in the month of November. 



3. Spawning not ceased. 



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



spawning season is regarded as very good. 



Smolts— 



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



2. As a smolt year 1909 was very good. 



REPORT FROM CONON 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 the average. 



(b) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — During the spring months 



in the Brahan waters with net and coble, above the average ; 

 otherwise about an average. 



(c) By rod and line — About the average. 



3. Expressed as percentages for each month of the season, so as to show the 

 times of greatest run, the figures are : — 





Feb. 



Mar. 



April. 



May. 



June. 



July. 



Aug. 



Sept. 



By Fixed Engine, . 



3 



7 



8 



15 



15 



40 



12 





By Sweep Net, 



4 



10 



12 



9 



13 



36 



16 





By Rod and Line, 



9 



12 



14 



9 



13 



19 



14 



10 



Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared, as included in 

 the above return, are as follow : — The main run of sea trout was in 

 March and April. Clean sea trout in the tidal waters at all seasons. 

 The first run of grilse was about the last week in May. 

 4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 58h lbs. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are — July, Castlecraig bag net 

 fishery. Several salmon were caught in all the bag net fisheries in the 

 Conon district varying in weight from 30 lbs. to 40 lbs. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £2967 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was Is. 4d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 3 in number — 1 permanent inspector and 



2 temporary watchers. 



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



prosecution during the year 1909 was one for angling in the Black water 

 without permission from the proprietor. The accused person was tried 

 at Dingwall on 11th November, 1909, and a plea of guilty was tendered 

 on his behalf. The Sheriff ordered him to pay £1 Is. of modified 

 expenses. 



