34 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Report 
Answers from The take of fish is stated to be well maintained in the Deveron District ; 
DistrictBoard ^sual, no return is given of the number caught. The first clean 
'fish are taken on the 11th February — the opening day of the fishing 
season. The main take of salmon is in August. The grilse and sea-trout 
run in July. The heaviest salmon taken by net and coble was 40 lbs.; 
the heaviest by fixed engines was 45 lbs.; and the heaviest by rod 30 lbs. 
The Bye-laws and Eegulations under the Salmon Fishery Acts are stated 
to be well observed, and the protection is said to be efficient, 10 men 
being employed. There is some illegal fishing, but not to a great extent. 
The cruives and dams in the district are said to be worked in conformity 
with the regulations. There is a Salmon Hatchery belonging to the 
Duke of Fife which is capable of hatching 100,000 ova annually. It is 
suggested that the ' Wild Birds Protection Act, 18S0,' should be 
repealed as regards Scotland, to prevent destruction of ova. It is stated 
that the Board are ' much annoyed xoitli ivhite- fishers setting hang-nets along 
* the sea coast, under the pretence of taking white fish, hut really Idlling 
* scUmon.' 
Answers from I have answers to the following effect from the Spey, the most productive 
Board^^^*^^^^ salmon river in Scotland, with the exception of the Tay. The yield of 
the river is much the same as last year. But no returns are given of the 
number of fish caught. The Bye-laws regulating the annual and weekly 
close times are stated to be strictly observed ; and the period fixed for the 
annual close time is said to be satisfactory. The system of protection is 
efficient : there being 42 river watchers, with Inspector and Superintend- 
ent. There are no natural obstructions. There is one cruive not worked 
during 1890 ; and several dams on tributaries of the Spey. But the Bye- 
laws with regard to hecks, fish-passes, &c., are said to be duly observed. 
A Hatchery has been commenced near Spey Bridge, Garmouth, at the 
expense of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. 
T have much pleasure in printing the following interesting Annual 
Report by the Superintendent of the Spey for year ending 26th August 
1890, submitted to the meeting of the District Board, held in Elgin, on 
24th October 1890 :— 
L — Salmon Spawning. 
The following Tables show the dates of the first appearance of salmon 
spawning beds, and the number seen and counted by the bailiffs during the 
last three spawning seasons of 1887-88, 1888-89, and 1889-90 on the follow- 
ing named streams or tributaries : — 
1887-88. 
Name of Stream. 
Fiddich, 
Avon, . 
Livet, . 
Conglass, , 
Lochy, . 
Dulnain, 
Nethy, . 
Druie, . 
Feshie, . 
Tromie, 
Truini, . 
Spey (above Laggan, Badenoch), 
spawning Connne„ced.^"trSeas?n.'' 
21st October, 1887 
22nd October, 18871 
920 
j-1406 
j 
521 
220 
668 
15th October, 1887 60 
13th October, 1887 
15th October, 1887 
20th October, 1887 1 
14th October, 1887 
Total, 3849 Spawning Beds. 
