of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
19 
to the same authority, the fish that come up in October and the first half 
of November are the largest of the season, and are in perfectly good con- 
dition. The old cruives at Ellon have been removed, and the river now 
runs over the sit3 of the old cruive boxes, forming nice pools below. 
The sea fishings by fixed nets in the Ythan district are valuable. I was 
unable to procure reliable statistics of the yield of fish, but the water 
bailiff estimated it at about 6000. 
At the meeting of the Ythan District Board, it was pointed out that 
there would be great practical difliculties in carrying out the recommen- 
dation of the Committee on Crown Rights in Scotch salmon waters, that 
local fishermen should be permitted to fish for salmon with hang-nets in 
the narrow seas on payment of a license, inasmuch as a salmon fishing 
belonging to the Crown might be between two fisheries belonging to 
private parties. In such a case, the limits of the respective fisheries 
would require to be marked out by buoys, and even then there would 
be no security that the fishermen licensed to fish with hang-nets would 
not trespass on the private waters, unless the District Boards instituted 
a more complete and expensive system of watching. 
I have been favoured with returns from the Clerk to the Ythan District Answers from 
Board of the fishings in the river during 1890, of which the following is ^oard ^^'^^^^^^ 
a summary: — Tlie fishing has diminished generally throughout the district. 
But few salmon and grilse were caught by net and coble ; 5227 were 
caught by fixed engines, and 70 by rods. The heaviest salmon caught 
by fixed engines was 38J lbs., and the heaviest by rod 22 lbs. The 
District Board would wish the net fishing to extend farther on in the 
season, and the extension of rod fishing also. 
The system of protection in the district is stated to be fairly efficient. 
There are said to be salmon-ladders on all the dams in the river, affording 
a sufficient passage for salmon. There are no pollutions. The proportion 
of male to female salmon is estimated at 6 male to 4 female. 
In answer to the 'general question,' it is said — 
That the Board are about to petition the Secretary for Scotland to vary 
the annual close time, so that it shall in future begin on 20th September 
and end on 6th March, and to alter the corresponding extension for 
ordinary fishing, so that it shall in future begin on 20th September and end 
on 14th February. 
The feeling of the District Board of the Ugie seemed to be strongly Inspection of 
against the recommendation of the Committee on Crown Salmon Fisheries ^^^^^ 
to license hang-nets in the narrow seas, and also against the Crown's 
giving up unchartered salmon waters to the public. 
There are several dams on the Ugie, not obstructive from their height 
and steepness, but objectionable on the ground that they are not water- 
tight, the water percolating through them instead of flowing over them ; 
so that, when the river is at all low, scarcely any water comes over the 
crest of the dam, making it impossible for salmon to ascend. 
The most objectionable of these dams is at Scotsmill — a very old dam. Scotsmill 
The making this dam in conformity with the requirements of the bye- 
laws would be the greatest improvement that could be effected on the 
Ugie. But, it is calculated by persons on the spot, well qualified to judge, 
that it would cost £200 to put it thoroughly to rights. 
Scotsmill dam is between the two picturesque old ruined castles of 
Inverugie and Ravenscraig, which tower above the banks of the Ugie. 
It has stood there for a very long time, and, on the down stream face of 
it, there is a thick growth of grass and bushes. The water percolates 
freely through every part of it ; and, though the river was by no means 
