of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
31 
fchis an excellent district for salmon, grilse, and sea-trout. At present few can 
come over the Falls. 
From Kyle of Sutherland, it is stated that the number of trout taken Kyle of 
from the various lochs, as far as can be ascertained, was 1876, weighing Sutherland. 
1003 lbs. 
From Scourie the hotel-keeper mentions, that for the past two years Scourie. 
the take of trout has diminished, owing to the dry weather. The largest 
salmon taken in the district last year was caught in the stake-nets, and 
weighed 56 lbs. • and a brown trout of 4 J lbs. was captured by rod in 
Loch Badnamoult. The total number of sea-trout and brown trout killed 
by parties fishing from Scourie Hotel was 1200. 
In 1889, 3440 brown trout were taken by anglers residing at Forsinard Forsinard.^ 
Hotel. The heaviest trout was 6 lbs. The take of salmon in the district 
is said to have diminished, owing to overfishing with bag-nets in Melvich 
Bay. There is no hatchery, but the innkeeper thinks that the fishings 
would be much benefited by the establishment of one. 
From Riconich Hotel, west coast of Sutherland, Mr Wallace reports a Riconich; 
general diminution of fish throughout the district, which he imputes to 
excessive fishing by bag-nets, and to the great destruction of gravid fish 
while in the act of depositing their spawn. 
About 800 salmon were caught by net and coble and 70 by rod. The 
largest fish caught by net and coble was 35 lbs. ; the largest by rod, 
20 lbs.; largest sea-trout, 6 J lbs. It is stated that the Byelaws regarding 
the annual and weekly close times are strictly kept by those fishing from 
the hotel. But that the observance of the weekly slap by bag-nets in the 
district is the exception, and not the rule. I have not received a return 
of the number of fish caught in 1889 by parties fishing from Riconich 
Hotel. But, in 1887, the following was the return : — 31 salmon, weighing 
208J lbs.; 17 grilse, weighing 77Jlbs.; 549 sea-trout, weighing 477^ lbs.; 
and 1076 yellow trout, weighing 376 J lbs. 
With regard to the natural obstructions in the district, Mr Wallace 
writes as follows : — 
The Fall on Achriesgill River. Good spawning ground above. The Parbh 
Alt Burn Fall is an insuperable obstruction at present. This burn is the outlet 
of a chain of five lochs, and if the salmonidse had access to them, the fish would 
undoubtedly multiply in the district as the spawning ground is extensive and 
excellent, and the sport obtainable would be increased sixfold. Oldshore More 
Bum could be vastly improved at a trifling cost, so as to enable fish to ascend 
to the loch above; but the mill-dam on this burn is a source of annoyance. 
This could be rectified by constructing a lade on the same principle as that on 
the Culag Burn, Lochinver. Blasting would suffice for Achriesgill. Blasting 
and ladder for Parbh Alt Burn. 
The system of protection is said to be far from efficient, with exception 
of Loch Garbetbeg, the loch nearest the hotel. The other lochs in the 
locality, which are very numerous, are stated to be ruined by otters, nets, 
set lines, leisters, and other destructive devices. 
There is no hatchery near Riconich, but Mr Wallace is of opinion that 
the establishment of one would greatly improve the fishings, and he would 
be glad to undertake the supervision. 
From the beautiful and popular hotel at Inchnadamph at the foot of inclmadamph. 
Ben More, and close to the picturesque shores of Loch Assynt, 4 salmon, 
6 grilse, 19 Salmo ferox, and 2533 brown trout were killed last year. 
The heaviest salmon weighed 12 lbs., and the heaviest Salmo ferox, 12^. 
Parties fishing from Altnahara Hotel last year had 50 salmon, Altnahara. 
2188^ lbs. of trout, and 26 lbs. of Salmo ferox. The heaviest salmon was 
15 lbs. The take of salmon is said to have diminished. 
Culfail Hotel, near the Pass of Melford, is surrounded by a great CulfaiL 
