of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



5 



" nets above that point eompulsorily. Compulsion is necessary, 

 " because to omit even one net might ruin the whole scheme ; it 

 " being demonstrable that any restrictions lower down the river 

 " would simply transfer a large number of fish to the station 

 " higher up which was allowed to remain." 



No legislation has as yet given District Fishery Boards power 

 to deal with this question of reduction of netting, but in several 

 districts voluntary associations have been formed for the special 

 purpose of ascertaining how far the result may be attained by agree- 

 ment. In this way the angling tenants of the Helmsdale have 

 removed all nets in their district ; the Loch Ness Angling Improve- 

 ment Association have removed, under lease, all nets from the river 

 Ness ; a material reduction of netting has been effected in the Spey. 

 The Kyle of Sutherland nets, which I inspected in 1904 and Kyle of 

 reported upon, have been in great part removed. This action has Sutherland, 

 long been looked forward to, but has now been brought into opera- 

 tion by the formation of a Syndicate composed of local proprietors 

 of salmon fisheries and certain of the angling tenants. The lease 

 of the Balnagown Net Fishings at Bonar Bridge does not expire 

 till 1916, but a break occurs at the close of the season of 1911. 

 The Invercharron Net Fishings are leased till 1910. The Skibo 

 Net Fishings are unlet. It has now, I am able to report, been 

 agreed to take over those fishings — which comprise the whole 

 nettings of the Kyle — and, by means of a Committee of the 

 Syndicate, to carry on the fisheries in a reduced and regulated 

 manner for the next five seasons, by which time the break in the 

 Balnagown lease will be capable of being utilised. No netting is 

 to be carried on above Bonar Bridge, and the Balnagown and 

 Skibo nets are alone to be fished during April and May. 

 In addition to this, 24 hours extra weekly close time is to be 

 allowed, the nets being off from 6 p.m. on Saturday till 6 a.m. 

 on Tuesday. The present tenant of the Invercharron Fishings 

 is to act as manager for the Syndicate. Mr. Macaulay, Golspie, 

 who has carried through the negotiations, has kindly furnished 

 me with a memorandum prepared in January of this year 

 (1907) setting forth in some detail the relative conditions 

 and obligations undertaken. In this the definite purpose of 

 the Syndicate is stated as being " to improve " the angling 

 " on the rivers by allowing up an increased number of fish, 

 " and at the same time to make sufficient out of the nets to 

 " meet or nearly meet the rents and expenses." It may be felt 

 by some that the primary object, viz., to improve the angling, is at 

 first sight a benefit so limited in its application as to be open to 

 serious criticism. I have no hesitation in saying, however, that it 

 is this very improvement of salmon angling and the increase in the 

 desire for this form of sport which is the safeguard of the best 

 economic interests of our salmon fisheries, since it secures as an 

 inevitable accompaniment an adequate stock of breeding fish in 

 our rivers. I consider, therefore, that, in the absence as yet of 

 legislation on the lines of the Lord Elgin Commission Report, 

 giving power to District Fishery Boards to acquire, compulsorily if 

 need be, net fishings in narrow waters, it is a most fortunate 



B 



