§ Mr. Kimballasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many salmon were caught in the rivers of the United Kingdom in 1954 and 1955; and what percentage of this catch was taken by bag and drift netters who make no contribution to the upkeep of the' spawning grounds.
Mr. AmoryIn England and Wales about 66,500 salmon are estimated to have been caught in the 1954 season, 61 per cent, being taken by nets of various kinds. No separate records arc kept of the drift net catch. Bag nets are not permitted. Figures for 1955 are not yet available.
In Scotland the available figures relate to salmon and sea trout together. The combined catch of these species was returned as about 554,000 fish in 1954. About 83 per cent. were taken by nets including some 38 per cent. by bag nets off the sea coast. Drift netting is illegal in Scotland. Interim figures for 1955 show a reduction of about 8 per cent. in the catch, but the proportion of fish taken by bag nets rose to about 45 per cent. of the total. For both countries the figures include fish caught in the sea.
Anglers and netsmen make no direct contribution towards the upkeep of spawning grounds, but both contribute 83W towards the expenses of local fishery authorities whose functions include the conservation and improvement of the salmon fisheries.