SALMON DISEASE. 125 



disease was laid before the Commission ; and upon the face of it, 

 it seemed very likely that a scarcity of water meant a deficiency of 

 food and overcrowding of fish in holes ; and hence a liability to a 

 feeble condition of the fish. The Eden was sometimes very low, 

 but was liable to such periodical flooding and flushing as should 

 do away with any thought that this cause could have any effect 

 upon the salmon disease ; there was indeed no loch which was 

 constantly supplying the rivers with clear water, as was the case 

 with many rivers in Scotland, such as the Tay and Forth ; and it 

 would appear the presence of these lochs must have a very 

 beneficial effect upon the river, and thus tend to keep up the 

 general health of the fish. 



Breeders of salmon by artificial means had shown that over- 

 stocking was a most certain cause of fungus ; inasmuch as the 

 disease was prone to attack any bruise or wound on a salmon, it 

 was quite clear that all causes which might produce injuries should 

 be met ; and all seemed to admit that fish had great obstructions 

 to contend with at weirs. Thus many fish got blocked at 

 Armathwaite Bay, fought in hundreds, and knocked themselves to 

 pieces. The same thing existed on the Tyne, about Alston. It 

 would seem that this cause was capable of easy remedy, and the 

 same might be said of the presence of dead fish, upon whose 

 bodies the fungus continued to grow, producing spores which 

 might rest at the bottom of the water, and so perpetuate the 

 disease. 



The practice of removing dead and diseased fish at all 

 seasons of the year was, no doubt, to be highly recommended as 

 a means of stamping out the disease. Dr. Cooke quoted a writer 

 who believed that if otters were preserved for a season or two 

 many of the diseased and weakly fish would be got rid of and the 

 breed of fish improved, inasmuch as the strongest and best fish 

 no doubt escaped their natural enemy ; but Dr. Cooke seemed to 

 think that the general health of the fish must be so improved as to 

 enable them to resist the attacks of parasites. In Canada, fish- 

 breeding was carried on to a large extent with considerable benefit, 

 and there were advocates for the introduction of this practice 

 in this country as a remedy against the salmon disease. In 

 conclusion, he spoke of the condition of the flesh of diseased 

 salmon, the whole of which he thought was probably unwholesome. 

 (Cheers. ) 



The President thanked Dr. Lediard for his paper. 



Mr. R. Routledge remarked that the disease is found 

 specially among clean fish. In all diseased fish the liver was much 

 enlarged. As soon as they touched the sea-water the fungus was 

 washed off, and the salt water parasite got on to the fish. They 



