32 
Appendices to Eighth Annual Report 
number of lochs containing abundance of trout, but not accessible to 
salmon. No fewer than 7698 trout were killed in these lochs last year 
by parties fishing from the hotel, and this is a much smaller number, 
owing to the dry season, than has been taken in former years. 
The fresh-Water trout — writes Mr M'Fadyen — have multiplied to such an 
extent that they are becoming small in size owing to the want of food. Pro- 
prietors are preserving their lochs, and there are no poachers, as the district 
has become depopulated. In olden times a good many trout were killed at the 
time of spawning, and as there is nothing of this now in our district, their 
number is legion. I may mention that I have been stocking some of my lochs 
with Loch Leven trout from Howietoun, and it has improved the quality and 
size a little. I have been doing this for the last nine years ; but so long as 
there are so many native trout in the lochs, it is scarcely possible to improve 
them much farther. 
Respecting the natural obstructions in the district, Mr M'Fadyen 
writes : — 
There is a natural obstruction in the shape of a waterfall, which, if removed 
by blasting, would give access to three miles of river, constituting the best 
spawning ground on the west coast ; and then the salmon could get into Loch 
Tralig, which is about one mile long by a quarter in breadth. The present 
spawning ground on the River Oude is very rough, and when there is a flood 
all the spawn is washed into the sea. 
Tyndrum. From the Tyndrum Hotel, 2 salmon and 3134 trout were captured in 
1889 in Loch-na-bea and in the River Fillan. 
Loch Awe. The fishing in Loch Awe is said to be improving of late years, and the 
operations of the Loch Awe Fishery Improvement Association are stated 
to be doing great good both to salmon and trout fishing ; to the former 
by watching the spawning beds ; to the latter by putting large numbers 
of trout fry into the loci), and by killing down the pike. Pity it is that 
the labours of so useful and necessary an Association should be dis- 
continued or suspended for want of funds. Mr Cameron, of the Port 
Sonachan Hotel, states that the number of trout taken last year by parties 
fishing from that hotel was 7299, averaging about half a pound ; and if 
to this is added salmon and Salmo ferox, the total number was 7313. 
The heaviest fish was a Salmo ferox of 11 lbs. ; the heaviest salmon was 
8 lbs. 
Mr Cameron wishes to direct the special attention of the Fishery Board 
for Scotland to the evil effects of the netting at the mouth of the River 
Awe upon the fisheries in the loch. The net fishing closes at present on 
the 27th August. He thinks that it should close a month earlier. 
Dalmally. Mr Eraser reports from Dalmally that last year both the salmon fishing 
in the River Orchy and the fishing in Loch Awe were not so good as 
usual, owing to the dryness of the season. Forty-five salmon were caught in 
the Orchy by parties fishing from Dalmally Hotel, and 2000 trout from the 
Loch Awe Hotel. The heaviest salmon was 25 lbs. ; the heaviest yellow 
trout 3 lbs. ; and there were 2 salmo ferox of 8 and 8-J lbs. respectively. 
Mr Fraser thinks that 'nets should be off the River Awe two whole 
* days every week during the open season.' 
Taycreggaa. From Taycreggan, another of the hotels on Loch Awe, I have no 
account of the number of salmon and trout killed. It is stated, however, 
that * the take for 1889 was a very much diminished one owing to 
' drought; but, upon the whole, for the five years previous to 1889, the 
4 takes of salmon, especially on Loch Awe, have increased. The cause is 
1 not well understood.' 
Loch Katrine. I am informed that no account has been kept of the number of trout 
killed in Loch Katrine, but one is to be kept in future. A curious cir- 
