26 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
were taken by nets 1,817 salmon weighing 21,161 lbs. ; 9977 grilse 
weighing 52,409 lbs. ; and 199 trout weighing 330 lbs. About 300 
fish were captured by the rod. The largest fish caught by net and coble 
was 25 lbs. ; by fixed nets 30 lbs. ; and by rods 27 lbs. 
The Bye-laws, with regard to the observance of the annual and weekly 
close times, are said to be not very strictly observed ; and it is stated 
that it is thought that the close time for nets should commence on the 
15th instead of the 27th of August. Protection is said to be fairly 
efficient, there being ' 5 bailiffs and a lot of gamekeepers.' There has 
been no poaching ; there are no prosecutions. 
There are no artificial obstructions, and the natural obstructions, in 
the shape of waterfalls, on the Borgie and Kinloch rivers, are not 
serious. The salmon disease is unknown. There are no hatcheries in 
the district, though, some years ago, there were several. 
From the Assynt District I have answers to the printed Queries, though 
not from an official source. The answers relate principally to trout- 
fishing, which is stated to be stationary, there being no marked increase 
or decrease. About 13,000 trout are said to have been got in 1889, the 
heaviest being lbs. 
There are two waterfalls in the district — the falls of the Kirkaig and 
the Black Falls, between Cama Loch and Loch Veattie. There is 
excellent spawning ground beyond. It is suggested that salmon-ladders 
sin aild be placed on these falls. Both these falls and their surroundings 
will" he found fully described in my 6th Report to the Fishery Board 
(pages 42, ~43). y 
There is no hatchery in the Assynt District, but it is suggested that 
one should be established, and that 'the trout in the various lochs in 
* the district should be crossed with Loch Leven trout so as to improve 
' the fishing. 
RIVER CLYDE, INCLUDING LEVEN, LOCH LOMOND, &c. 
From this district, (where there is no District Board, though there is 
very great need of one) I have the following answers : — 
Salmon and sea- trout have been on the increase for the past ten years. 
During the dry weather, the tacksmen on the Clyde shotts had an unpre- 
cedented take— said to have been 4000 lbs. weekly. Owing to dry weather, 
the rod-fishing was very poor up to middle of August, after which it was 
excellent for the smaller size of sea-trout. 
The tacksmen, being well watched, observe^ the close time strictly. The 
poachers, however, are always at work, from year's end to year's end, on the 
white fish pretext. The watching of the spawning streams is quite neglected ; 
Loch Lomond and lower waters (Leven and (Clyde) are well watched by 
watchers of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association and by 
gamekeepers, &c. Only 5 salmon and 800 to 900 sea-trout were caught, in 
1889, by the members of the Loch Lomond Angling Association. 
The salmon-ladder on the river Luss dam is very imperfect. Not more 
than 1 fish in 10, out of those trying it, gets oveiv* On the Endrick, another 
tributary of Loch Lomond, at Gartness, there is ra&her a bad fall, which could 
be improved easily by blasting a corner of rock. On the Douglas there is a 
very bad fall requiring extensive blasting. Above t^hese are there are extensive 
and first class spawning grounds. It is thought, as regards such obstructions, 
that compulsory power, such as that conferred on .Boards of Conservators in 
England by section 49 of the Salmon Fisheries Act of 1873, should be extended 
* I am happy to be able to state that the Colquhoun. Trustees are^about to tal<e 
the necessary steps to enable salmon to pass easily over t this dam. They also con- 
template opening up the fine spawning ground above the Falls on the Douglas, if it 
is possible to do so at a moderate expense. 
