X 
Report on Salmon Fisheries. 
Loch Leven. 
Esk Angling 
Improvement 
Association. 
Inspections 
during 1891. 
The Ericht, 
Shee, and 
Ardle. 
The Annual Report of the c Loch Leven Angling Association ' 
shows that 5076 more trout were killed in 1891 than in 1890. 
The Loch was, with the permission of Sir G. Graham Mont- 
gomery, Bart., kept open to anglers till the 5th of September, 
being five days beyond the usual period of closing. The ex- 
ceptionally cold weather in April and May, and the unusually dry, 
clear weather of the greater part of the remainder of the season, 
were most adverse to successful angling; but, notwithstanding 
these unfavourable circumstances, the season as a whole has been 
a fair average one, and a great improvement on the previous year. 
The following Table shows the number and weight of trout 
killed in each month during the past six years (see page viii). 
During the past year 606 pike have been killed, weighing 
2081 lbs. 
The usual hatching operations were continued with success, and 
nearly 300,000 healthy fry were deposited in spring in the feeders 
of the Loch. 
The following is an extract from the Annual Report of the Esk 
Angling Improvement Association, who have now for six years 
leased the lower part of the Musselburgh Esk, and have been 
stocking it artificially, and carefully protecting it. 
Statistics of Fish Taken. — The following Table offish captured 
during the past angling season has been compiled from the water- 
bailiff's reports. It is proper to state that the figures given in 
the Table are under the mark, the water-bailiff not having been 
able always to obtain the particulars of every basket (see page ix). 
The average weight of each fish for 1891 is 9J oz. There have 
been more fish taken during the past season, running from 1 lb. 
to 1J lbs., than during almost any previous season. The largest 
fish taken during the year was a sea- trout of 1J lbs. There were 
no specially large fish taken during the year, but, both in the early 
part of the season, and in the back end, a considerable number of 
sea- trout were taken about 1J lbs. The largest yellow trout 
weighed 1 J lbs., and several were captured approaching that 
weight. More yellow trout have been taken than in previous years. 
During 1891 Mr Young, the Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, 
inspected the Ericht, Shee, and Ardle, the Lunan, Lochs Venachar, 
Achray, and Katrine, and connecting and tributary streams ; the 
salmon-ladders on the River Ballisodare ; the salmon-ladder on the 
Moriston at Invermoriston ; Loch Torridon, the Balgay River and 
Loch Damph ; the Nith and Annan Districts on the Solway ; and 
the River Truim, a tributary of the Spey. 
The Ericht below Blairgowrie, where the Salmon Fisheries used 
formerly to be of great value, is now utterly salmonless, owing to 
obstructions, pollutions, and the almost total abstraction of the 
water in the river, when it is low, by the enormous lades which 
supply the manufactories at Blairgowrie. The Tay District Board, 
some years ago, placed Macdonald Fish ways on two impassable 
dams on the Ericht ; but, unfortunately, it turned out that these 
Fish ways which have proved so successful in the United States of 
America are not suited to our rapid Scotch highland streams, which, 
when in flood, bring down great quantities of gravel and other 
debris, which choke up the tubes upon which the successful action 
