of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 141 



Illegal Salmon Fishing. 



The period since the termination of the war has been, rather remark- 

 able for the amount of salmon poaching detected. Some extraordinary 

 instances of illegal fishing were brought to my notice during the war, 

 chiefly owing to the large numbers of timber-cutting overseas men con- 

 centrated in comparatively remote camps. An unfortunate legacy 

 appears to have been left behind them. Cases have recently occurred 

 in which 20 to 30 salmon have been found in the possession of men 

 caught netting, and there appears to be a disposition for men to band 

 together in such numbers as to make their capture a matter of great 

 difficulty and danger. Netting just before the commencement of the 

 open season in districts which have a good run of early fish, is, with 

 prices as at present, extraordinarily profitable, and men can afford to 

 accelerate their movements by the use of motor cars. District fishery 

 boards are experiencing a good deal of difficulty in overcoming this 

 class of offence. 



Hydro-Electric Power Schemes. 



In this connection I would only venture to call attention to the 

 tendency on the part of very many people who have no very intimate 

 concern with salmon fisheries, to take it for granted that salmon and 

 fresh water interests should inevitably be sacrificed. Without any very 

 evident consideration of the question, the position is accepted that the 

 trading of electric light and power to towns and villages, or the develop- 

 ment of power for the benefit of, it may be, one particular commercial 

 undertaking, is far more important than the supply of salmon to the 

 community. 



It is clear that no specially interested party is qualified to decide 

 which is the more important, but it is clear also that the idea of sacrific- 

 ing one or other as an inevitable result of rivalry, is a most imperfect 

 way of looking at the matter. I am not aware, from coming in contact 

 with very many specially interested in salmon fisheries, that there is any 

 definite desire to oppose, in toto, the use of water for creation of power, 

 as being inimical to fishing interests. But people very naturally ask 

 that no unnecessary harm be done, and that conditions be adjusted so 

 as to bring about a modus vivendi. It is clear that such adjustment can 

 only be settled before works are constructed, and it seems likely that in 

 the future, the services of some neutral authority for considering these 

 matters as between promoters of orders and district fishery boards and 

 others will be more needed than in the past. 



W. L. Calderwood. 



