60 
Apjpendices to Ninth Annual Heport 
Forsinard 
Mason's Arms 
Hotel, Stroin- 
getting up to much good spawning ground and to Loch Tralaig, and 
expresses an opinion that ' Government ought to have the power of 
* Wasting any obstructions or waterfalls that prevent salmon getting to 
* good spawning ground.' 
The fishermen from Forsinard Hotel took 15 salmon and 2388 yellow 
Sndshim*^^''' 1^^^- ^^^^ heaviest salmon weighed 13 lbs., and the heaviest 
yellow trout 4J lbs. The mouth of the river Halladale is severely netted, 
or the takes of salmon would be much greater. Throughout Sutherland, 
there is a rule which prohibits any trout to be taken less than 6 inches 
in length. 
Mr Mackay of the Mason's Arms Hotel, Stromuess, states that about 
400 sea-trout and yellow trout, weighing 500 lbs., were taken from the 
lochs of Stenness and Harray, in Orkney, in 1890. The number is 
diminishing, owing to netting in these lochs with small-meshed nets, to 
fishing with set lines, and to taking the trout going up the burns to spawn. 
The heaviest yellow trout in 1890 weighed 12 lbs. He states that illegal 
fishing goes on, and that there are no watchers ; also that a number of 
fixed nets are set in the sea to prevent sea-trout going up to the lochs 
after the commencement of the close season for nets. 
With reference to the expediency of providing an annual close time for 
yellow trout — such as there has been for many years past in England and 
Ireland — which was recently strongly pressed by a deputation on the 
Secretary for Scotland, I find that out of the 32 hotel-keepers, with 
fishings attached to their hotels, who have returned answers to the 
printed queries forwarded to them, 24 are decidedly in favour of such a 
close time ; others return no answer to the query relating to this subject ; 
some prefer a gauge of from 6 to 9 inches to a close time ; and only 3 
object to a close time. Among those who are in favour of a close time, 
however, there is a great diversity of opinion as to the time over which 
that close time should extend. The following close times are suggested : 
the same as that for salmon ; from 1st J^ovember to 1st April ; from 15tli 
October to 1st April; from 1st October to end of January; from 15th 
September to 1st March; from 30th September to 1st April; from 1st 
October to 1st March; and from 31st October to 1st March. There is, 
in short, great unanimity with regard to the necessity for a close time 
for trout, but great diversity as to the proper period over which such a 
close time should extend. If I were asked to name the most expedient 
close time, I think I should be inclined to pronounce in favour of one 
extending from 15th October to 15th February. 
A close time 
for yellow 
trout. 
Since the above was in print I have received answers to the printed 
queries from the Tyne ; the Feugh and the Dye, two important 
tributaries of the Aberdeenshire Dee ; and from Dr M'Mcoll of 
Dalmally, the new Secretary to the Loch Awe Fisheries Improvement 
Association. 
^nswers from Jn the answers from the Tyne it is stated in reply to the query about 
the Tynel^ ^ artificial obstructions, that there are ' mill-dams at Hailes, at Sandysmill, 
Haddington- * and at Abbeymill (all below Haddington), at Gimmersmills and the 
»hire. < West Mill in the town, and some dams above the town. None of 
* these are very serious obstacles, though capable of improvement. But 
* there is a dam across the river at Amisfield, below the town, which is 
* impassable. There are no ladders ; and none of the lades have hecks. 
* Indeed, the lades and byewashes are used for the slaughter of fish. 
* The dam at Amisfield is not connected with a mill.' 
