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REPORT. 



I have the honour to report that in the early part of last summer, by the Inspection of 

 direction of the Fishery Board for Scotland, I accompanied Mr Stafford J^j^j^jjjJJ 

 Howard, H.M. Commissioner of Woods, &c, on an inspection of the north^oastsof 

 salmon fishings on the sea-coast between Aberdeen and Eyemouth, and Scotland, 

 subsequently continued this inspection from Aberdeen northwards to 

 Strathy Point in Sutherlandshire. 



Salmon fishing on the shores of the open sea in Scotland has, as is 

 well known, for a number of years been prosecuted by means of fixed 

 nets. These nets are of two descriptions — stake or fly nets, and bag-nets. 

 The principle of fishing in each case is the same, viz.: — a net stretched 

 from the shore seawards which serves to guide the fish into a bag or trap 

 situated at its outer extremity ; the difference between the nets being that 

 the former, which are used in shallow water, are fixed to stakes driven into 

 the ground, while the latter, which are used in deeper water, are floating 

 nets fixed to buoys moored to large stones or anchors. These nets are 

 in some places used singly, in others several are set in a line, the one 

 beyond the other, outwards from the shore. 



The inspection of the salmon fishings between Eyemouth and Aberdeen 

 was made during the second and third week of June from the deck of 

 the steam tug 'Empress of India.' Favoured by fine weather the 

 steamer was able to keep close to the shore, thus enabling those nets 

 which were set to be counted with considerable accuracy. Several of the 

 tacksmen of the crown salmon fishings joined the steamer on this expedi- 

 tion, and assisted in pointing out the position of the nets, besides giving 

 much valuable information regarding the cost and method of working 

 them. The inspection of the fishings to the north of Aberdeen was made 

 from the Fishery Cruiser *■ Vigilant,' when on her way to take up her station 

 on the west coast, and my thanks are due to Captain MacDonald, the 

 commander, for the ready assistance he afforded me in my work. Owing 

 to the 'Vigilant' being due at Stornoway by a fixed date, however, 

 it was not possible to call at so many places, and meet so many of the 

 tacksmen of the fisheries, as had been done to the south of Aberdeen. 

 I had the advantage, however, of being accompanied by Mr George 

 Davidson, a proprietorjand tacksman of salmon fishings and well acquainted 

 with the fishings along the coast. The coast line from Aberdeen to 

 Strathy Point was followed, and the nets enumerated in the same way 

 as had been done to the south of Aberdeen ; and as this inspection 

 was made during the first week in July — that is, almost at the height of 

 the salmon fishing season — it is probable that the full number of nets 

 it was intended to make use of during 1894 were then set. 



On these inspections I took with me sheets of Bartholemew's reduced Man of Scot- 

 Ordnance Survey of Scotland (two miles to the inch) and laid down on land -showing 

 them, as nearly as possible while steaming along the coast, the position nnmber'of net 

 of the various lines of fixed nets. This position was numbered on the used, 

 map, and a corresponding number entered in a note-book, against which 



