36 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Report 
The Fidtlich, Avon and its tributaries, and the Feshie are the best streams 
for the early or grilse spawning. The Feshie depends upon the grilse which 
ascend the Spey during the summer months, and it is the most favourable 
river for them above the Avon. The Fiddich and Avon, more especially the 
Fiddich, depend upon the autumn-run grilse. The decrease on Fiddich last 
year, compared with the previous year, was 500 spawning beds ; on the Avon 
and its tributaries the decrease was 1 645 ; on the Feshie, 254 of a decrease ; 
and the Druie (also a good grilse spawning stream), had a decrease of IVO 
spawning beds — making, over all, on these streams alone, a total of 2569 
spawning beds. Frojn 14th until 21st December, and from 4th until 11th 
January, no sight could be obtained of spawning beds by the bailiffs on the 
Avon, in consequence of the river being discoloured by high and brown water ; 
consequently a number of spawning beds may have been wrought, and the fish 
left off Avorking before the river became clear enough again to enable the 
watchers to have seen and counted them during said time. On the Spey the 
spawning was fairly good, but certainly not so good as on the previous year, 
and the river during the whole spawning season ran pretty high water, and 
owing to this fact, the spawning fords that can be but imperfectly seen even 
during what would be held to be low size for the winter season, were made 
difficult to see. The spawning continued on Spey till end of February both in 
the Rothes and Cromdale districts. There was a spate on the river on 11th 
March, but with the exception of the spawning fords at or near the new 
railway bridge at Speymouth, which were formed on new and shitty grounds, 
I do not think otherwise that any great damage was done by said spate. No 
damage was done to the spawning beds -from ice during the season. 
II. — Smolt Season. 
There was a fairly good appearance of smolts descending the tributaries and 
river during the spring and early summer. Eleven watchers were on duty for 
six weeks, commencing 21st April, protecting them over the whole district of 
Spey and tributaries ; and twelve dozen of printed notices, cautioning persons 
against taking or killing smolts, or the young of salmon, were posted up at 
conspicuous places along the sides of the river Spey and tributaries over the 
whole district. The watchers found anglers generally to be using the greatest 
caution against taking and destroying the smolts. 
III. — Disease among Fish. 
Fungoid disease, to all appearance, was not so prevalent during last winter, 
or late spawning season, as it was during the previous year ; but when the 
decrease in the number of fish in the rivers is taken into account, I cannot say, 
from last season's observations, whether the disease is increasing or diminishing 
in the Spey district. From 1st December 1889, till 8th February 1890, on 
the Fiddich stream. 64 dead fungoid diseased salmon were removed from the 
water and buried by the bailiffs. During the same period the previous season, 
and on the same stream, the number of diseased fish removed and buried was 
134. When it is noted that during the spawning time of said previous season 
1045 spawning beds were counted on said stream, compared with 545 beds 
during last season, the percentage for disease on the respective numbers of beds 
during the last two seasons is the same, namely, about 13 per cent. It is 
generally about December before this disease shows itself among the fish, and 
it is mostly confined to male fish. These are given to ' charging,' chasing, and 
biting each other, apparently through jealousy, and when a diseased fish once 
bites a fish not infected, the infection will, without doubt, be carried from the 
biter to the bitten. I think if we were empowered by the Salmon Fishery 
Acts to capture and kill all fish showing the first appearance or symptoms of 
this disease, it could in a great measure be checked. This disease is very rarely 
seen upon clean or newly-run fish. 
IV. — Poaching during the Year. 
I am glad to say that during the year now ended there was, as on the previous 
year, a marked decrease in poaching over the district. 
