of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



37 



3. (a) First fresh fish taken early in February, but clean fish run in Halla- 

 dale and Naver all winter ; (b) April and May ; (c) Sea-trout, May, 

 grilse, June. 



5. (a) 40 lbs. ; (6) 35 lbs. ; (c) 30 lbs. 



Protection — 



1 and 2. No assessment levied. 



3. Five bailiffs besides numerous keepers all paid by the proprietor. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 

 5. Yes. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. 22nd of October. 



2. 26th of October and 15th of November. 



3. End of November. 



4. Good. Very regular. 



5. More. 



6. Halladale, Strathy, Naver, Borgie, and Kinloch. 

 Kelts— 



1. April. Naver was earlier than usual (March). 



2. Latter end of March and early April. 



3. Naver eDd of April, others later. 



4. Low. 



Smolts — 



1. 1st of May to 15th. Naver late this year, into June. 



2. Yes. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 



Seventy thousand fry put into rivers in this district from other rivers — 

 principally the Helmsdale. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 



Males predominate — from actual observation. 



Wild Birds' Protection Act, 1880— 

 Mergansers should not be protected. 



SUTHERLAND, WEST COAST DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. (6), (c) and (d) Above the average. 



2. (b) 10,238 salmon and grilse ; (c) About 500 salmon and grilse. 



3. (a) June ; (b) and (c) July and August. 



4. (6) The answers given last year apply to this year without any perceptible 



change. 



5. (b) and (c) No fish over 30 lbs. was reported. 



Protection — 



1. .£1235. 



2. All expenses of watching paid by the proprietor or tenants. There is no 



board nor assessment imposed. 



3. Every river is watched and protected. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



7. The bag-nets along the coast outside the estuary of the Laxford River 

 have been wholly removed. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. The last week of October. 



2. Between 14th of November and 20th of December. 



