of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
35 
nets on the middle and upper reaches of the river having been taken off 
by the proprietors with a view to increasing the rod fishing, the fish get 
more freely up to the spawning beds. The weight of the heaviest 
salmon taken by fixed engines was 56 lbs., and by rod 47 lbs. It is stated 
that the annual and weekly close times have been strictly observed ; 
but, with regard to the annual close time, it is suggested by a good 
many persons that the fishing in this district should commence about a 
fortnight earlier — say on the 28th January instead of the 11th February. 
The system of protection is efficient. The river watchers are not con- 
nected with the County Constabulary Force, but are employed by, and 
subject to the District Board. They are twenty-three in number, includ- 
ing four men in the steam-launch, which is the joint property of the Dee 
and Don Boards. 
Illegal fishing has almost ceased at the mouth of the river and on the 
coast since the Dee and Don District Boards provided a steam-launch for 
further protection. On the river, as compared with former years, illegal 
fishing has not been so prevalent. The number of prosecutions in 1891 
was five. There are no obstructions by dams or cruives, but there are 
waterfalls on the Feugh and Lui, and the proprietors are being communi- 
cated with in order to their being opened up, which could be done by 
slight cutting and ladders. The spawning grounds above are good and 
extensive. As regards pollutions, the sewage of Braemar, Balmoral, 
Ballater, Aboyne, Kincardine O'Neil, and Banchory is discharged into 
the river. This has necessarily been increasing, but in certain of these 
places (Ballater, &c), some movement is being made towards providing 
a remedy. The salmon disease showed itself on 1st November last ; both 
kelts and clean fish were affected, but it is now extinct. There are 
two Hatcheries for the propagation of salmon only ; one in the Aberdeen 
Salmon Company's premises at Aberdeen, belonging to the Dee and Don 
Boards jointly, and another at Durris, near the river, rented by the Dee 
Board. The former hatches out from 12,000 to 20,000 fry yearly, and 
the latter from 500,000 to 600,000. 
The proportion of male to female salmon is estimated at two males to 
one female. 
There has been a general slight increase on the sea fishings, made Answers from 
up principally at the end of the season, when the wind changed to th e Don 
a more favourable direction and the tides were suitable. The river fishings B^j Ct 
slightly decreased, owing to the smallness of the body of water and 
favourable conditions of the weather for the working of the sea fishings. 
The weight of the heaviest salmon caught by fixed nets was 52 lbs., and 
by rod 50 lbs. The annual and weekly close times have been strictly 
observed, but it is suggested, as regards the annual close time, that the 
time for the commencement of the fishing should be put back say ten 
days, viz., from 11th February, as at present, to 21st February, and the 
closing day extended to say 6 th or 8th September, and the rod fishing 
should cease on 20th in place of 31st October. The reason for this latter 
suggestion is that it would prevent anglers fishing at a time when the 
fish are full of spawn, and on the spawning beds. There are twenty 
river watchers on the Don. The steam-launch kept at the joint expense 
of the Dee and Don Boards has proved most efficacious in keeping down 
illegal fishing. There were ten prosecutions in 1891 ; all the offences 
were committed on the river. There are no natural obstructions on the 
Don, but the artificial ones are numerous and serious, consisting of the 
Cruives and the dams at Kettocks Mills, Grandholm, Persley, Mugiemoss, 
and Stoneywood. It is stated that they are all worked in accordance 
with the provisions of the bye-laws, and that there are fish-passes that 
