of the, Fishery Board for Scotland. 
21. 
It was thought advisable to revisit the River Conon, as the subject of inspection of 
the opeuing up of the Falls of the CoiiOn below Locli Luicliart, and the ^Jj^J^jJ'^®'^ 
long rapid and fall on the river above the Loch, had been [)rominent]y 
brought forward in the evidence given before the Committee appointed 
by the Secretary for Scotland to inquire into the Crown Rights in 
Salmon Fisheries in Scotland ; and as the said Committee, in their Report, 
write as follows : — 
The Commissioners of Woods and Forests mentioned to us the case of a 
proposal by the riparian proprietors on the Conon, a river running from Ross- 
shire into' the Moray Firth, where there is a natural rock obstruction, to 
purchase from the Crown the right of salmon fishing, and that they would 
then remove the obstruction. For this, the proprietors having uncliartered 
waters have arranged together to offer the slum}) sum of £1000. It is stated that 
by the removal of that obstruction a large breeding ground, both of river and 
lake water, would be opened up, and the Inspector of the Salmon Fisheries 
for Scotland, who is well acquainted with the district, strongly approves of 
the proposal. But after the discussion in the House of Commons last session 
upon the Morar case, the Commissioners, in consequence of the remarks then 
made, have delayed completing the sale until it had been considered by us. 
We are of opinion that, if the Secretary for Scotland, after due inquiry, 
approves of the proposals, the Commissioners should carry out the sale to the 
riparian proprietors as proposed. 
Afterwards, in their recommendations with regard to the future Report of 
administration of the Crown Ris^hts in Scottish Salmon Fishinprs, the Committee on 
^ ., ° ^ ^ Crown Rights 
Committee write : — in scotch 
The greater the extent of spawning ground that can be opened, the better ^^J™ rg^rd^to 
for the public interest. We, therefore, recommend that in all cases where such opening up 
obstructions exist, riparian owners be encouraged to undertake their removal Falls of Conon. 
by receiving a charter of the fishings ex adverso their lands on favourable 
terms. 
And their twelfth recommendation is in the following terms : — 
On the general question of the removal of natural obstructions, where this 
will open up unchartered waters, we would approve of power being conferred 
upon the Fishery Board to require or undertake their removal, and when 
doing so to prepare a scheme regulating the interests of all concerned. 
In the end of August last I inspected the Conon and its tributary the Inspection 
Orrin. The first day I was in the district, I drove to the Falls of the Orrin ^/^'JJj 
in company with Mr Mackenzie, Clerk to the District Board, and the per- tributary of 
manent Water-bailiff. He is the only watcher during the open soason. *be Conon. 
But, during the close season, he has the assistance of another ^vatcher. 
The upper part of the Conon is stated to be well watched and protected 
by the gamekeepers of the various proprietors and lessees. 
The Falls of the Orrin are about 6 miles distant from the town of 
Dingwall. Below these Falls, there is a magnificent and spacious pool, 
with a bottom well-suited for netting. It was stated to me that nearly 
1000 fish are taken out of this pool annually by the proprietor, Mr Stirling. 
As many as 40 have been captured at a single haul of the net. The Fall is 
about 15 feet high, and the pool immediately above is about the same 
depth, so that to blast the rock between the pool above and the pool 
below would be a very easy task. But to this the proprietor is naturally 
very much opposed. There are 9 miles of good spawning ground above. 
As it is, though the fall is certainly a serious obstruction to the upward 
progress of fish, it is not an absolute barrier, as a good many salmon 
succeed in surmounting it every year. It might be advisable to take 
salmon out of the pool below the Falls of Orrin, after the netting season 
is over, and place them in the pool above, so as to utilise more thoroughly 
the extensive spawning grounds above. ^Ir Stirling claims the right to 
the salmon fishing on both sides of the Orrin throughout its whole course, 
s. F, a 
