30 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Beport 
The Kiver 
Tyne not 
ithin the 
District of the 
Forth, owing 
to the erro- 
neous word- 
ing of the 
Bye- law con- 
stituting 
the District. 
Answers to 
the Printed 
Queries from 
District 
Boards. — 
The Tay Dis- 
trict Board. 
River Tay— 
Answers by 
Ur P. D. 
Mallocli, 
Perth. 
Peffer, an extent of nearly 2 miles, belongs solely to the Earl of Haddington. 
A great many seals are also to be seen swimming about the mouth of the river, 
which are thought, with probability, to be one cause of tlie scarcity of other 
fish. 
After carefully considering the wording of the Bye-law constituting the 
District of the Kiver Forth, I am clearly of opinion that neither the Tyne 
nor the Midlothian Esk, nor the Almond on the south shore of the 
Firth, nor the Leven on the north shore, are legally included within the 
District of the Forth. I had the honour to make a Eeport on the 
subject to the Fishery Board, dated 13th August 1890, which sets forth 
the reasons which have induced me to form that opinion.''^ 
I have received answers to the printed queries from a number of the 
District Boards in Scotland. 
The rental of the Tay for 1889 was £17,731, 2s.; and for 1890, 
£17,819, 10s. The take of fish in the Tay is stated to have decreased 
during the net fishing season. This is imputed to various reasons, among 
others to drought and sraallness of river for last five years during the 
netting season, causing the fish to enter later, and to be too numerous for 
successful breeding. No statistics as to the number of fish caught are 
given. The heaviest salmon caught by net during 1890 weighed 57 lbs., 
and the heaviest by rod 42 lbs. The bye-laws regarding the annual and 
weekly close times are said to be well observed in the district. Dissatis- 
faction is expressed with the period fixed for the commencement and 
termination of the annual close time, and it is suggested that it should 
commence 'on 15th January, but with a forty-eight hours' close time.' f 
The protection on the river and its tributaries is stated to be * as efficient 
' as it can be with the strength of men employed — 25 in close time, 
' and 8 in summer. They are not members of the County Police.' Illegal 
fisliing is not prevalent. There have been fewer prosecutions than usual 
— ' very much from the absence of fish in the Earn caused by the low 
• state of the river and inability of fish to get past the Dupplin Dam.' 
The obstructive dams on the Ericht, which have been fully described 
by me in previous Reports to the Board, are noticed, and it is stated that 
' on the Earn there are five very serious obstructions, and one at CriefF 
' less so. Two at Dupplin and Strathallan have cruives in them.' 
Among natural obstructions, the Falls of Tummel ; the Keith on the 
Ericht; and the Falls of the Garry are mentioned; and an opinion is 
expressed that District Boards should have compulsory powers to open up 
such obstructions, 'if done in such a manner as not to injure the amenity.' 
The salmon disease appeared in the end of November, and attacked all 
sorts of fish ; but it seems to be diminishing year by year. Removing 
the dead fish seems to be the only thing one can do. There is a hatchery 
at Dupplin, and there are ponds at Stormontfield belonging to the Tay 
District Board. 330,000 ova are hatched at Dupplin. 
I give the following answers from Mr P. D. Malloch, fishing-tackle 
maker and naturalist, Perth, who has been intimately acquainted with 
the Tay fishings for many years, and who has no connection with 
* This Report will be found in the Ninth Annual Report on the Salmon Fisheries 
hy the Fishery Board for Scotland, which precedes this Report, pages xvii-xix. 
t By Order, under the Secretary for Scotland's hand, dated 15th December 1890, 
nnd published in the ^f/mJiw^/^ Gazette, 19th December 1890, the rod -fishing season 
applicable to the Tay is altered, * so that the period for rod-fishing shall in future be 
' from the 15th day of January to the 15th day of October, both days inclusive, in 
* each year. But the period for rod-fishing on the river Earn and its tributaries is 
' to continue as it was previously to the date of the Order, that is, from the 11th day 
' of February to the 31st day of October, both days inclusive.' 
