42 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Report 
River Broom- 
Answers from 
Mr J. A. 
Fowler. 
Answers re- 
garding River 
Ewe, from Mr 
Dixon, In- 
veran Lodge. 
Ness District 
— Answers by 
Mr Malcolm, 
Invergarry. 
Close to the borders of Sutherland is the Eiver Broom, on which there 
is no District Board ; but the whole river belongs to Sir John Fowler of 
Braemore, and from his son, Mr J. A. Fowler, who resides at Inverbroom 
House, I have received answers to the printed queries. There is nothing 
but rod-fisliing on the Broom, which, for so small a river, yields occa- 
sionally very heavy fish. The season of 1890 was an exceptionally bad 
fishing season. Only 35 salmon were killed. Yet there was plenty of 
water and a fair quantity of fish in the river. The largest fish killed by 
the rod weighed 31 lbs. There is a private Hatchery, not worked at 
present, but capable of hatching out 100,000 ova. Three male fish are 
killed for every female fish. ' I hold very strong opinions,' says Mr 
Fowler, * which I have previously expressed, that the iveelcly (not annual) 
' close time is insufficient. I strongly hold that the weekly close time 
' should be increased, if not doubled. I am certain more fish would be 
' sent to market by bag-nets if this were the case. Of course, for 3 years, 
' or 4 years possibly, there would be fewer fish killed by bag-nets, till the 
* proper and adequate breeding stock had been got up.' 
There is no District Board on the Ewe in Ross-shire, formerly such a 
famous salmon river ; but INIr Dixon, Inveran Lodge, who has been inti- 
mately acquainted with it for many years, writes me that the fishing has 
undoubtedly diminished, which he imputes to the bag-nets. The number 
of fish (salmon and grilse) caught in the Ewe in 1890 was only 54, and 
the number caught in the upper waters did not exceed 6. The main run 
of fish is from May to July. These west coast rivers are in general late, 
but Mr Dixon states that clean fish are occasionally got in the Ewe in 
February, and that he himself got 6 with rod and fly in February 1886. 
He is in favour of having the commencement of the weekly close time at 
12 noon on Saturday instead of 6 in the evening. 
I have no answers from the Ness District Board ; but Mr Malcolm, 
Invergarry, who is thoroughly acquainted with the salmon fisheries in the 
district, has kindly sent me answers. He states that there has been no 
increase in the fisheries; the take in 1890 being considerably below the 
average. No statistics of the take of fish are kept ; at least, they are not 
tabulated and published. The Ness is an early river : the first clean 
fish are taken at the opening of the season (11th February). The main 
take is in March and April in the upper waters of the Ness District, and 
in August and September in the lower waters. The grilse and sea-trout 
run in July, August, and September. Salmon are always got in the 
Garry to 30 lbs. weight and upwards. The bye-laws are tolerably well 
observed, and the watching is fkirly efficient. No constabulary are 
employed, and the water-bailiffs are all under the District Board. 
There are no natural or artificial obstructions in the district. Salmon 
have free access to the headwaters of the Nefss, more than 70 miles from 
the sea, there being no insuperable difficulty in the way of their ascent to 
the spawning grounds of the Quoich and Kingie and Upper Garry. 
The River Ness at Inverness is subject to pollution from various sources, 
especially during droughts, namely, town sewage, tanneries, waste pro- 
ducts from gasworks, and such-like. No steps, so far as I am aware, 
have been taken to counteract these. The salmon disease hns shown 
itself, but not to any great extent. It was first observed three or four 
years ago. It chiefly aS'ected kelts, but also the autumn fish that appear 
to have remained long in low-water pools. It certainly is not observed 
in fresh-run, lusty fish, only in spent fish, or in those that have remained 
long in fresh water. Ample powers should be given to remove from the 
river and destroy such fish ; but they should be safeguarded against 
ignorant or malicious abuse or excess. 
