Sir, – Congratulations to Dr David Summers of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, the board members over the past few years and their staff, on the success of their long and arduous campaign to restore the River Garry to a salmon-producing river once more.
The news of running fish at the Struan Falls for the first time in 60 years is brilliant.
It is estimated that the 13 kilometres of water, now once more available to spawning fish, could produce a total of 6,000 more returning salmon and grilse, more than doubling the fish ascending the fish pass at Pitlochry dam.
This will also benefit all the beats on the Tay from the Tummel junction downstream, as well as opening up former beats on the Garry, once a renowned spring river, but which have been water and fish-less thanks to hydro water abstraction.
The action could not have been carried out without the legislation provided under the EU Water Directive.
It will be interesting to see just how successful the fish are in recolonising the tributary where, over the past few years, the board staff have stocked thousands of eyed ova, using Garry stock from lower down the river, to preserve its biodiversity.
Ken Bell.
Burghmuir Road,
Perth.
Lax morals are to blame
Sir, – How dare First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declare that recent allegations of sexual harassment are indicative of a problem with men?
How dare John Swinney lecture all men on the need to improve their conduct?
That’s about as sensible as telling all Muslims to improve their conduct in the wake of a terrorist atrocity.
Men are not a homogeneous group that can be singled out for special criticism and do not share collective responsibility for the behaviour of any individuals. Sadly, a huge number of MSPs regard it as their mission to progress the battle of the sexes.
Being wed to extreme feminist ideology, it is no surprise that the Scottish Government is keen to treat men as an inferior and dangerous group in need of re-education.
One can sense the pleasure of the gender warriors at the spectacle of John Swinney standing to eat humble pie as a representative of the male of the species.
Perhaps there will be one MSP with the boldness to object to this demonisation of half of the population. I guess not. Most MSPs adhere to feminist orthodoxy, and the few that don’t lack the courage of their convictions.
Sexuality is a powerful force that needs strict boundaries if it is not to become destructive.
It is the erosion of these boundaries that leads to the sort of abuse that is sadly so common.
The devaluing and trivialising of sex over several decades is the responsibility of those who encouraged it, but abusers are wholly accountable for their own sexual incontinence.
Richard Lucas.
Scottish Family Party,
272 Bath Street,
Glasgow.
Women can be abusers too
Sir, – The slant of all the accusations is towards men harassing women in the workplace.
No recognition has been made of harassment of women towards men. Why is this ignored, or is it acceptable because women are considered always to be the victims?
Roy Moffat.
Bollyglosh,
Gilmerton.
How low can our politicians sink?
Sir,- I was not surprised by the news that Westminster MPs sometimes take advantage of their position to bully and sexually exploit their juniors.
But what did surprise me was the revelation, on live television, by two party insiders, one Labour and one Conservative, that the party whips, in effect the party managers in the parliament, when they get to hear about any such misdemeanours committed by MPs generally do nothing to discipline the culprit.
They just take note, and use it to their advantage, in effect to blackmail that person to ensure that they toe the party line and vote according to the party’s wishes.
My already low opinion of Westminster politics sinks further into the gutter.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Celebrate Dundee jobs
Sir, – At last some good news on the jobs front in Dundee, from Tokheim (October 31).
One thing, however, was missing from your report: the fact that this is Tokheim moving production facilities from Malmo in Sweden to Dundee.
Can you imagine what our politicians would have said if it had been the other way? Jobs moving from Scotland to Sweden would have been portrayed as a result of Brexit.
It would have been headline news and yet now the reverse is happening, not a word.
It is clear that Tokheim don’t think that Brexit means they have to leave the UK.
Is it not about time that such good news is celebrated?
David Robertson.
14 Shamrock Street,
Dundee.
Scotland could follow Spain
Sir, – The pro-unity march in Barcelona gave voice to the silent majority who want Catalonia to remain in Spain. It saw up to one million give expression to how they view themselves as both Spanish and Catalan.
With sales of Spanish flags at their highest level since Spain won the World Cup, across Spain there is strong opposition to the separatist movement that would impose its will on everyone else.
It is little wonder that no country has recognised the unilaterally declared independence of Carles Puigdemont.
Interestingly, Alex Salmond has revealed on his LBC radio show that he would “almost certainly” have proceeded with an unofficial referendum if he had not had UK Government agreement for the 2014 vote.
Given his successor’s tendency to ignore majority opinion, perhaps events in Spain might prove indicative of what the future could hold for Scotland.
Keith Howell.
White Moss,
West Linton.
