30 



Appendices to Thirteenth Annual Report 



thing but what they are prepared to swear were proper spawning beds, each of 

 which had been spawned upon by at least one pair of fish, consequently doubt- 

 ful beds are left out of count, although these may have been properly formed 

 and spawned upon had a sight of them been attainable when they were being 

 wrought. On the River Spey the spawning seemed to be fairly good, and when 

 the size of the river permitted the spawning fords being examined, there were 

 good signs of fish and redds. From Grantown to Boat of Bridge fish were to 

 be seen on the spawning beds up to the end of February. No damage was 

 done through spates or ice to the spawning beds during the season. 



II. — Smolt Season. 



Descending smolts during the last spring and early summer were, like the 

 previous year, seen very early in the season. This was caused no doubt by 

 the mild and genial weather experienced during the months of March and 

 April. As to numbers, the appearance was similar to the average of former 

 seasons. Eight bailiffs were stationed, as follows, to protect the smolts and 

 salmon fry for six weeks, commencing 30th April, viz. : — One man at Garmouth, 

 One m&n at Fochabers, one man at Dufftown, one man at Aberlour, one man 

 at Ballindalloch, one man On Upper Avon and LiVet, one man at Grantown, 

 and one man at Duthil, Twelve dozen of printed notices cautioning persons 

 SgftinSt taking of killing smolts, Salmon fry, or parr were posted up at con- 

 spicuous places along the sides of the river and tributaries over the whole 

 district from Speymouth to Laggan,- Badenoch. The superintendent, inspector, 

 and two constables continued after end of said six weeks' duty to protect the 

 Salmon fry up till 30th July, on which date other fou^men were put on duty to 

 Continue protection of said fry during the months of August and September. No 

 persons were found with smolts in their possession during the season. The 

 usual mode of cautioning persons once and taking down their names and 

 addresses, as cautioned against killing parr or salmon fry, has been continued 

 this season* The number of persons so warned and shown parr by the bailiffs 

 during the spring and summer of 1891 was 500. The number for 1892 was 

 385. The number for 1893 was 237, and the number for the present summer 

 amounts to 373 persons warned and shown parr and not previously warned. 



III.— Disease among Fish. 



1 have as usual taken the River Fiddich to work and report upon anent 

 1 f tingoid,' or disease among salmon in Spey district during the last season of 

 1893-94. During the season the number of dead or dying fish removed and 

 buried by the bailiffs was 46. Only two of this number were females. The 

 disease and deaths occurred as follows : — From 18th November till 31st Dec- 

 ember 1893, 9 dead fish removed ; from 1st till 31st of January 1894, 32 

 removed ; and from 1st till 24th February, 5 were removed. Calculating the 

 percentage of fish dying from the disease to the number of spawning beds counted 

 Upon the stream during the seasons back as far as five years, Fiddich has given 

 the following percentages : — During the season of 1889-90* 13 per cent. ; 1890- 

 91, 18 per cent. ; 1891-92, 16 per cent. ; 1892-93, 19 per cent. Last season 

 the nilnlbef of spawning beds was 566, and the number of dead and diseased fish 

 femdved and buried was 46, thus making the deaths about 8 per cent. Last 

 Season's percentage is the lowest on record, but then it must be noted that 

 Upwards of 100 sea-trout beds above the usual have to be taken into account 

 On this stream, and disease among sea-trout is of a very rare occurrence. 

 No excess in males over females was observable in this stream during the 

 spawning season. On 14th September, 1893, Alexander Craik, gamekeeper, 

 tmchromb, while out with Mr Grey, a gentleman from London, trout angling 

 on Fiddich on a pool near Buchromb, landed two parr which were slightly 

 marked with fungoid disease. They returned them to the river. No other case 

 Of fry showing marks of disease was reported to me during the year. 



IV.— Poaching during the Tear. 



Mght persons were brought before the Sheriff Court for trial, and all con- 

 victed for poaching offences during the year. 



