of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
51 
Concerning natural obstructions, the following is the answer : — 
The only natural obstruction is at East Linton. There is extensive spawn- 
ing ground above it ; but it is doubtful whether, if the fall were made pass- 
able, the River Tyne would be frequented by salmon. At present, the only 
migratory fish in the river seem to be bull-trout. 
The following is the concluding statement : — 
In this district the yellow trout fishing is more valuable than any other, 
there being practically no salmon. There is a unanimous opinion that there 
should be a close time for yellow trout, from about 1st October to 15th 
February. 
The landlord of the Feughside Hotel sends me answers to the printed Answers from 
queries. He states that the fishing has diminished owing to the Falls at Hq^IJ^^^^^ 
the mouth of the Feugh. The heaviest salmon taken in 1890 was 
10 lbs.; the heaviest sea-trout, 4 lbs.; and the heaviest yellow trout, 2 
lbs. ' There is,' he says, * one great obstruction at the mouth of the 
* Feugh to prevent salmon, &c., from ascending, which ought to be blasted, 
* as there are splendid spawning grounds above ; also, there is one artificial 
* obstruction at the mouth of the River Dye.' 
With reference to the above, I may mention that, in my first annual 
Report to the Board, published in 1883, I wrote as follows about the falls 
on the Feugh : — 
The only natural obstruction in the Dee district occurs on the Feugh, the 
principal tributary of the Dee, just above the Bridge of Feugh. The Falls here 
might easily be made passable for salmon, and 20 miles of river, with much 
good spawning ground, would thus be opened up on the Feugh and its tribu- 
tary the Dye. - 
Dr M'Nicoll, like Mr Hartley, the former Secretary to the Loch Awe Answers from 
Fisheries Improvement Association, is strongly in favour of another day Dr M'NicoU of 
being added to the weekly close time. He is also anxious that the ob- ^ ^' 
structions on the River Avich should be opened up, so as to allow the 
migratory salmonidce to have access to the wide expanse of Loch Avich. 
In connection with the opening up of Loch Avich, I may, perhaps, be Opening up of 
allowed to quote what I wrote on the subject in my sixth annual Report Loch Avich. 
to the Fishery Board, which is dated 28th February 1888. I there write 
as follows : — 
In July last I inspected the falls on the Avich, a stream about 2 miles long, 
which unites Loch Avich and Loch Awe. and flows through a picturesque 
glen, for the most part thickly wooded. Loch Avich is a spacious and beauti- 
ful sheet of water 310 feet above the level of the sea. It is 3 J miles long and 
5^ furlongs wide at the lower end, covering about 1000 acres. It contains 
abundance of trout, bright-hued, well-shaped, und running from three to four 
to the pound. I have no doubt it would be a capital salmon loch if the fish 
could only get access to it from Loch Awe. But, unfortunately, there are 
several waterfalls in the course of the stream which at present entirely 
prevent the ascent of the migratory salmonidce. All of them, however, with 
the exception of the lowest one, could easily be made passable ; and the cliief 
(piestion to settle is. Would the expense of making the.se waterfalls passable for 
salmon be compensated by the number of salmon captured annually in the 
Avich and Loch Avich ? This is a somewhat doubtful matter. 
