30 
Appendices to Tenth Annual Report 
1 superintendence of the Salmon Fisheries of Scotland, and shall have 
' the powers and duties of Commissioners under the Salmon Fishery Acts, 
' but without prejudice to or interference with the poivers of District 
' Boards. 1 
Answers to The answers from the Tay District Board are favourable. Both for 
Printed netting and angling, the year 1891 has been a good one. But were it 
Queries from no t f or the general goodness of the year throughout the country, they 
Boards*— The wou ^ De i nc lioeci to attribute the successful fishing on the Tay to the 
Tay District partial interdiction of the sparling smacks in autumn and spring, which 
Board. used to capture salmon and smolts under pretence of fishing for spar- 
lings. The heaviest fish caught in the Tay in 1891 by net weighed 62 lbs., 
and the heaviest caught by rod weighed 47 \ lbs. The bye-laws are stated 
to be fairly well kept, but there were several prosecutions for offences 
last year, some offenders being fined as much as <£10. It is stated that ' the 
\ present annual close time is as good as it can be under the existing Acts, 
' since it has been changed to 26th August and 11th February, but the 
' latter is too late for commencement. The rod fishing now begins on 15th 
' January, and this will certainly be a great boon to anglers and the pro- 
' prietors of upper fishings.' 
The artificial obstructions in the Tay District are the cruives and dams 
on the Earn and Ericht ; the natural obstructions are the Falls of 
Tummel, the Falls of Garry, the Falls of Lochy, the Keith on the Ericht, 
and Reekie Linn on the Isla. None of these have as yet been made pass- 
able for salmon. The salmon disease has again made its appearance in 
the river, but it is said to be diminishing. There is a Hatchery on the 
Earn at Dupplin, belonging to the Tay District Board, which, as altered 
and improved, can hatch out 510,000 ova. 
Answers from In tidal and fresh waters the number of fish caught by nets is stated 
the Spey ^o be much the same as the previous season, but the rod and line fishing 
Board 10 throughout the Spey District has? been the best experienced for a number of 
years. The largest fish caught by net and coble and in fixed engines 
weighed upwards of 40 lbs. ; and the largest by rod 35 lbs. 
The system of protection in the district is efficient. The men are em- 
ployed by and are subject to the District Board. The force consists of 
one Superintendent, one Inspector, and forty-four Constables. There is 
not much illegal fishing. 
There is but one cruive on the Spey, and it was not in use last season. 
There are some mill-dams on the tributaries, but they are all provided with 
fish-passes, which afford at all times a free passage to ascending fish. An 
artificial obstruction has been illegally placed upon the Truim.* 
The only pollution in the district is that caused by the refuse from 
Whisky Distilleries in the shape of ' spent wash ' and ' spent lees.' 
The amount of this liquid allowed to run into the river is increasing ; and 
no steps are taken by the polluters to neutralise the pollution. 
The fungoid salmon disease has been known in the district for many 
years, but only kelts and spawning fish are attacked by it. It is 
difficult to say whether it is increasing or decreasing. Probably about 
12 per cent, of the male kelts are more or less attacked by it. More 
specific authority to kill and bury the diseased fish should be given to 
water-bailiffs in any future Act. There is a Hatchery in the district 
belonging to the Duke of Eichmond, which gave satisfactory results last 
year. 
The Superintendent states ' that, from personal observation,' he con- 
* For my Report on this obstruction see pages 28-30. 
