40 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Report 
Answers from 
Mr Box, 
Tongue House, 
Sutherland- 
shire. 
Answers from 
Mr M'lver 
for the rivers 
and districts 
on the west 
coast of 
Sutherland. 
I have the following answers from Mr Box, Tongue House, respecting 
the rivers Hope, Kinloch, Borgie, Naver, Strathy, and Halladale. The 
Duke of Sutherland is sole pro[)rietor of all the rivers in this district, 
and he has discontinued netting for some years between Cape Wrath and 
Armadale Point, except a few nets in Talmine Bay. The take of fish 
is stated to have increased all over the districts of these rivers in 1890, 
the season being favourable. 1549 salmon, weighing 19,197 lbs.; 12,848 
grilse, weighing 74,049 lbs.; and 232 trout, weighing 429 lbs., were 
captured. 
The first clean fish are taken at the opening of the rivers for rod- 
fishing, on 11th January ; the main take is in April and May ; and the 
grilse and sea-trout run in the end of the year. The protection of the 
rivers is fairly efficient. The watchers are employed by the proprietor. 
There are five water-bailiffs and a number of gamekeepers. There was 
no illegal fishing in 1890, and no prosecutions. 
There are no insurmountable natural obstructions, though there are 
falls on the Borgie, Kinloch, and Mallart. There is a small pass on the 
Mallart for facilitating the ascent of fish. There is no salmon disease. 
There is no Hatchery in the districts of these rivers. But the rivers 
were stocked in 1890 with salmon fry from other rivers. 
Xo one has had so long an experience of the salmon fishings on the 
west coast of Sutherland as Mr M'lver of Scourie, who has favoured me 
with very full returns regarding them for the year 1890. 
The only mode of fishing practised on the coast from Loch Inver, in 
Assynt, to Loch Erribol is by bag nets. The average take for many 
years past is about 64,000 lbs. of salmon, grilse, and sea-trout. The 
quantity taken, in 1890, was — 
1677 salmon, weighing, 
8631 grilse, „ 
531 trout, „ 
19,903 lbs. 
48,169 lbs. 
1,138 lbs. 
Total, 69,210 lbs. 
The approximate number of fish taken by the rod in 1890 
was- 
On the Inver, 
„ Laxford, 
„ Kirkaig, 
„ Deonard, 
In Loch Garbet, 
100 fish. 
100 „ 
50 „ 
80 „ 
100 „ 
A quantity of sea-trout were also caught, but the number is unknown. 
All the rivers in Mr M'lver's district are late. Salmon are very rarely 
taken before May. The main take is in June, July, and August. 
Grilse run in the end of June, July, and August, and sea-trout in July, 
August, and September. The heaviest salmon in 1890 was taken in the 
bag- nets, on the Assynt coast, in August. It weighed 40 lbs. 
The bye-laws with regard to the annual close time are fairly well 
observed, and surprise visits are made, every now and again, to see that 
the bag-net leaders are removed, in terms of the bye-law. The period 
fixed for the annual close time is said to be suitable, excepting as regards 
angling, ' which should cease in the first week of October, not in the end 
* of that month, as fixed at present.' 
Illegal fishing is not prevalent. The rivers are all watched by parties 
employed either by the proprietor or the angling tenants. 
