Report on Salmon Fisheries. 
xiii 
width, surrounded by the mountains of Earl Lovelace's Deer 
Forest. A considerable stream falls into the head of it, on which 
are two smaller lochs on the property of Mr Murray of Loch 
Carron. 
There is a considerable Fall on the Balgay between Loch Damph 
and Loch Torridon, which, though not an entirely impassable 
obstruction, forms a very serious impediment to the ascent of 
salmon. But this Fall might be made easily accessible at no great 
expense, either on the right or on the left bank. On the right 
bank, the best plan would be to divert the water temporarily to 
the left bank, and blast out the top of the Fall on the right bank, 
make a resting pool between the top of the Fall and the pool at 
the bottom, and widen the opening from the pool on the right 
bank to the pool on the left bank. It would, however, be as 
effectual, and certainly cheaper, to attack the Fall on the left bank 
where there is a sort of natural salmon-ladder which goes quite 
round the Fall and which does not require much alteration to make 
it into an excellent and efficient fish-way. All that would require 
to be done would be to remove some boulders, and to deepen and 
widen the passage in one or two places; also a little blasting 
might have to be done at the top of the Fall. 
In the districts of the Annan and the Nith, the Inspector found ^ t ^ a " ( - ^ 
the paidle-nets, which have been so often declared by Government 1 1S nc 
Commissions and by Courts of Law to be engines set up and used 
for the taking of salmon, still fishing under the name of white-fish 
nets. The whammel or hang-nets, too, which rake the low-water 
channel of the Firth, are still as active and deadly as ever, and will 
remain so until the Act 7 & 8 Vict. cap. 95, and its amendment by 
the 25th section of * The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1868/ 
are made to apply to the Sol way Firth. There is a very objection- 
able lade in the Annan District, at Newbie Mill, long, wide, and 
deep, and without any hecks or gratings either at the intake or the 
tail-lade, which has been again and again complained of, but which 
the Annan Board have as yet taken no steps to guard in conformity 
with the terms of the Bye-law. At present it is a perfect salmon- 
trap. 
The pollution of the Nith below Dumfries Cauld, owing to the Pollution of 
sewage of Dumfries and the poisonous chemicals poured into it the Nlth ' 
from tweed mills and dye-works, has very much increased of late 
years. The Fisheries below the Cauld have, in consequence, 
greatly fallen off in value ; and, in some places, what were once 
good netting pools are now filled up and rendered useless by fetid 
mud. It is understood that the Nith District Board intend to 
take steps against the polluters. But clause 13 of the Salmon 
Fisheries Act of 1860, as amended, or rather emasculated, by clause 
16 of the Act of 1868, are so worded as to make it very difficult 
indeed to get a conviction for pollution. And, until a provision is 
introduced in some future Act giving to each District Board, with- 
in its own district, the same powers of prosecution for the preven- 
tion or abatement of pollutions in rivers and waters, as are at 
present competent to riparian owners in such district, it will be 
found very difficult to deal effectually with polluters. 
