of the Fishery Board fw* Scotland, 



39 



Wild Birds' Protection Act, 1880— 



We can testify that the heron for one makes unaccountable damage on sal- 

 mon and trout fry, and we are confident that the water-ousal does the 

 same with regard to the spawn. Cormorants are also most destructive 

 among sea-trout, especially in lochs, and mergansers or saw-bills make 

 havoc among smolts in the brackish water. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER TORRIDON. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (a) Unknown. No means provided by the Legislature for ascertaining ; 



(b) below the average — slightly ; (c) and (d) unknown (see a). 



2. (a) and (6) Unknown (see la) ; (c) Four salmon. 



4. Unknown (see la) 



5. (a) and(6) Unknown (see la) ; (c) 9£ lbs. 



Protection — 



1. .£40. 



2. £1, 10s. 



3. No special bailiffs. The proprietors' keepers did any watching. 



General Question — 

 The inspector is referred to the paper furnished by Mr Danoch, the pro- 

 prietor of Torridon, to the Third Annual Fishery Board Report for 

 1884, App. G., pp. 136-140. It seems extraordinary that the Fishery 

 Board should not be taking any steps to arrest the utter ruin which is 

 coming, on to north-western rivers, owing to the present state of the 

 law which permits, or rather has initiated, a state of matters so unjust 

 to the breeders of the fish, and so destructive to the supply of fish to 

 the nation. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER LOCHY. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (b) Rather below average, owing to draught in Autumn, but plenty of fish 



in river ; (d) somewhat below average. 

 3. (a) April ; (b) and (c) July. 

 5. (c) 39 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. £2122. 



2. Id. per £, and a contribution by Lord Abinger of £764. 



3. Twenty-three. 



4. Yes. A prosecution against three persons for illegally fishing for salmon 



in Loch Linnhe. Found not proven, but no expenses awarded to either 

 party. 



The Salmon Disease — 



1. No. 



4. No. Other than that, in my opinion, river pollution is a fruitful cause of 

 disease. 



The Spawning Season — 



2. Between second week of November and second week of December. 



3. Last week in December. 



4. Very high. 



5. More. 



6. Lochy, Spean, Roy, Cour, Loy, Nevis. 



Kelts— 



1. March and April. 



2. May. 

 4. Low 



