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The minnows he refers to ate living fungus in which pulsations could be ^DUMFRIES, 

 observed under the microscope. — - - 



Has seen the white spots on the frontal bone in kelts. Has only seen two 

 clean fish diseased : they had the fungus on the tail. The white spot grows in 

 different stages and gets deeper the more the fungus is growing. Has never 

 cut away the spot. 



Agrees with Mr. Arundell that the intestines are healthy. Mr. Stirling's 

 opinion is that they have worms ; but clean healthy fish also have worms. 



The disease never appeared before 1878. It first appeared more decidedly 

 in the river above his residence. In the Eden he heard rumours of it in 1877- 

 It has appeared in the Annan. The lessee says it has not appeared in the 

 Dee. 



The disease may have been carried from watershed to watershed by birds. A 

 heron might eat a fish in the Nith and hop across to the Tweed carrying 

 the disease as it carries pike spawn. It is possible that birds might do so. 



The new sheep drains have more to do with it than anything else. _ The 

 fish do not get pure water. The disease cannot have been caused by drainage 

 because drains have been in use 30 years, but the drainage might predispose to 

 disease by creating artificial conditions. An artificial state of water is created 

 by draining and liming the land. 



The experiment of killing all the fish should be tried in one river. The 

 disease began in one river in 1877 and has extended. 



It is more likely the fish get rid of it in the sea. Only one fish has been 

 brought to him from the sea and it was recovering. The fish may have 

 dropped down to the sea to get rid of the disease. The fish hang about the 

 tidal water and acquire the sea-lice without being actually in the sea. The 

 disease came certainly from above. 



The pollution is all below the Cauld at Dumfries. Artificial manures are 

 used but not to any excessive extent. The country is pastoral. 



The Tweed, Clyde, and Annan rise close to each other. The Clyde is not 

 affected. The Clyde rises near the Nith. Has seen the disease on an eel in 

 the Nith. 



The close season ends on the 11th February. The 31st October is the end 

 of the rod-fishing season. 



The stock of fish in the river has increased. In his father's lifetime only 

 one fish a year was killed by the rod for 40 years. Has caught more than that 

 himself this year. The Nith was an open river, being fished all the year 

 round, and practically there were no salmon in it. 



James Marshall — Is tenant of the estuary fishings under Mr. Witham 

 and Lord Harris and two others. Has held them for 35 years. The fisheries 

 have improved materially. The fisheries are more nourishing than ever. 



Has known the disease for upwards of 30 years. 



The disease he observed formerly was similar to the specimen produced. In 

 1877 and 1878 it has been more virulent. 



In previous years the salmon were affected before spawning. The unspawned 

 fish are first affected now. 



It breaks out about November among the fish going to spawn. There is 

 generally a good stock of fish. 



Has a theory to account for its increased virulence. The river is filled with 

 vermin, i.e. grayling. In 1877 the river was fuller of fish than ever, and over- 

 stocking increased the disease. 



Has seen it eight miles below Dumfries in the tideway among the fish 

 going down. Has seen fish coming up from the sea. They had the disease 

 before they went down, and had remained there two months perhaps. The 

 disease was all but cured. The sea has a medicinal and curative effect. The 

 worst fish, if it reaches the sea, will be cured. 



The disease is not propagated in the sea, but essentially in fresh water. It 

 has been always present there, but overcrowding has caused it to increase. 

 Refers to other fish besides salmon. 



Would ask the proprietors of the Nith to give encouragement to anglers to 

 kill small fish. This river is overstocked and polluted with small fish. A 

 gentleman asked him to get some fish for a pond, and he fished about 60 

 yards with a small net and landed three washing-pails full of grayling. The 

 river cannot support such a stock. 



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