20 
Appendices to Ninth Annual- Report 
very low when I inspected it, scarcely any water was coming over the 
crest of the dam, except in one place, and even there not in sufficient 
quantity for fish to ascend. 
There is a hatchery on the Ugie, situated on the river bank, a short 
distance from Mr Boyd's house at Inverugie. It belongs to the District 
Board, and the breeding-ponds are capable of holding 90,000 ova. They 
are not on glass grills, but on gravel. The two small ponds which hold 
the fry ought to be covered in with nets, in order to prevent gulls and 
other predaceous birds from getting at them. Also, before the fry are 
placed in the river — which is generally done, I was informed, when they 
are two years old — a sweep should be made with a net where they are to 
be put in, in order to capture the trout in the vicinity, which Would other- 
wise destroy the fry. 
The Ugie, like the Ythan, is one of the latest rivers on the East Coast, 
where, as a rule, the rivers are generally early. The following account of 
it, written a hundred years ago, is interesting when contrasted with the 
present state of matters : — 
In the water of Ugie there are salmon of an excellent quality. These are 
seldom caught before the month of April, and from that time until the 1st of 
July are in greatest perfection. There are threat varieties of fine trout, fin- 
nocks, eels, minnows, and flounders in the river. The rent of the salmon 
fisheries is £100 sterling, and the number of barrels caught annually is, at an 
average, from 50 to 60. A few lor some years have been j^icked for the London 
market, owing to the tacksmen, who reside at Peterhead, having very extensive 
connections with that branch of trade elsewhere. Fresh salmon are sold at 
2^d. per lb., formerly at 2d. There are no pikes nor shell-fish in the river, 
excej^t the pearl-mussel, in which pearls of value are sometimes found. 
Answers from The Ugie is one of the most productive small salmon rivers in Scot- 
Boa^(?^^*"^* land, and the ansv/ers to the printed queries for 1890 are very satisfactory. 
It is there stated that the take of fish is about the average all over the 
district, both in tidal waters and in the river ; that the approximate 
number of fish caught has been about 4500 salmon and grilse by nets, 
and about 40 salmon and grilse and 400 sea trout by rods in the river. 
The first clean fish are taken about the 7th March, the main take of 
salmon is in August, and the grilse and sea trout run mainly in September. 
The heaviest salmon caught in nets weighed 38 lbs., and heaviest sea 
trout 13 lbs.; the heaviest salmon caught by the rod was 23 lbs., and 
heaviest trout 7^ lbs. 
It is stated that both the annual and weekly close times are strictly 
observed, but it is urged that the period for commencing the annual close 
time should be a fortnight later than at present. There are no natural 
obstructions in the district. The following are the principal artificial 
obstructions : — 
Cruives at Inverugie not used except for catching salmon for hatching 
purposes ; dams at Inverugie, Ravenscraig, Stonemills, Mill of Kora, Mill 
of Aden, Mill of Denend, Mill of Gaval. None of these, with the exception 
of the dam at Stonemills, are in strict accordance with the provisions of the 
Bye-law. There are no salmon-ladders or passes, and some of the dam dykes 
are in bad order. 
With regard to power to District Boards to remove diseased fish from 
rivers, the Board write : — 
It seems questionable whether the existing Acts give satisfactory powers to 
remove and destroy all diseased fish, and it would be desirable to make 
sufficient statutory provision for this. 
The proportion of male to female fish is given, on estimate, at 5 males 
to 4 females. 
