XX11 



" anchored in some quiet nook they fill the air with stench and 

 " pestilence, that the disease is due. The fish are themselves 

 " deteriorated in constitution and less able to resist the attacks." 



Through the kindness of Captain Jones, chief constable of 

 Dumfriesshire, I am enabled to give the following returns show- 

 ing the number of fish taken by constables from rivers in 

 Dumfriesshire from December 1, 1879, to March 8, 1880: 



Nith - Found dead and buried - - 113 



- Found diseased and killed - 33 



146 



Annan - Found dead and buried - - 86 



Diseased and killed - 10 



Esk - Found dead and buried - - 486 



Diseased and killed - - 242 



96 



728 



Total - - - 970 



7. Injuries inflicted by Fish Fighting, or by Anglers. 



All those acquainted with the habits of salmon at spawning 

 time are well aware that the males fight very severely, and often 

 inflict formidable wounds on each other. 



Scattered up and down among the evidence will be found 

 opinions expressed that Avounds received in fighting added very 

 much to the prevalence of the disease, though they were not the 

 principal cause of the disease. 



It will be also noticed that on the Solway the disease is 

 attributed to excoriations and wounds received by whammel alias 

 hang-nets. In both these assertions there is in my opinion a great 

 amount of truth : that is, the fungus more readily attaches itself to 

 that portion of the fish's body from which the scale or the cuticle 

 has been rubbed off and excoriations made. It is the experience 

 of those connected with aquaria that fish which have been bruised 

 and injured in the nets are much more liable to the fungus than 

 those whose scales have been comparatively uninjured. 



It has been frequently alleged that when in the spring of the 

 year salmon kelts have been hooked and run, especially by the 

 minnow, the fish generally die from exhaustion, or the effects of the 

 hook wounds, after they have been returned to the water. 



To obviate this difficulty, it has been recommended that kelts 

 caught fairly by angling should not be required to be returned to 

 the water after a certain date, such date to be fixed by the Local 

 Board of Conservators, subject to the approval of the Secretary of 

 State. 



On this point the following suggestions have been made : — 



" A kelt should not be considered a kelt after the 1st of May. 

 " Many suggest the 15th of April." 



" After certain date kelts should be kept. The end of April 

 " or beginning of May would do." 



Kelts should be kept after 15th of April by anglers." 



(C 



