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ANNAN. been taken with it. A collier at Canobie killed a fish so diseased in July that 

 he left it on the bank. 



The Duke of Buccleuch's keeper told him of two fish diseased within the 

 last few days. 



The kelts are principally affected. 



Mr. Ormerod, a fishmonger in Carlisle, told him of diseased fish taken in the 

 tideway. A fish attacked by the fungus might go down to the sea to get rid it. 



A naturalist examined some fish eight or ten years ago from the Tweed. 



In the teeth of the law he got a kelt or two, and tried a solution to see what 

 would wash away the fungus. He found 25 per cent, of common salt the best 

 remedy, and formed the theory that it was a provision of nature to force the 

 fish into the sea to get rid of it, just as they go into the fresh water to get rid 

 of the sea lice. 



It is a river disease, in his opinion. Diseased fish have been seen 15 miles 

 above Langholm, as far as fish are seen. 



Has no theory as to the introduction of the disease, but believes it has been 

 known in the Esk for as long as memory goes back. Knows of no special 

 circumstances to favour its propagation. The winter of 18/7-8 was a winter 

 of heavy floods, with an average amount of frost. The winter of 1873-9 was 

 exceptional, and the disease has been less since. 



There has been a much smaller stock of fish in the river lately. Seven 

 hundred fish were buried between the sea and Langholm, and the stock must 

 have been diminished. This is the opinion of everybody he knows. 



Has not killed one fifth of the fish he used to. 



Sporadic cases of disease are observed all through the summer. 



Fish of all kinds have been spotted with disease, including eels, and large 

 numbers of sea trout (herlings). Cannot say if they had fungus. 



The valley of the Esk is chiefly pastoral. The construction of sheep drains 

 cannot have affected the river. There are no artificial manures used. 



The disease has been known for many years. Like the grouse disease, it has 

 been more virulent one year than another, Last year was not an exceptional 

 year as regards the weather. 



It is not possible for interbreeding to affect the fish. In a state of nature 

 interbreeding would exist. The stock of fish in the Esk has largely increased 

 for several years past in consequence of the watching by the Esk and Liddle 

 Fishery Association. Cannot say if there are more fish in those rivers than there 

 would be in a state of nature. Nature would take care to keep down over- 

 stocking. Knows rivers as largely stocked as the Esk, without the disease. 



Does not know much of the Tweed. Older men have known the disease 

 there, but have not paid much attention because it has not been so virulent. 

 Kelts are always liable to die, but this disease is quite distinct from the kelts 

 dying. Has not examined kelts closely to see if they have fungus. 



Overstocking might be a cause of the spreading of the disease, because the 

 spores would be spread among more fish. Cannot account for the fact that 

 there is no disease in the rivers north of the Forth, and south of the Eden. 



Suggests that if it is true that the disease spreads from the large number of 

 fish, it would be an advantage to be able to reduce the fish. The proprietor of 

 a pool in the Esk netted his pool and took out the diseased fish. Thinks this 

 was justifiable, although illegal ; would like a law enabling Boards and Associa- 

 tions to kill diseased fish in the close time. 



Hundreds of fish were taken out by the gentleman alluded to. Above 700 

 fish were buried from the Esk alone. 



Has not seen the fungus floating in the water, but thinks fish rubbing in 

 sand would catch it. 



Has heard that the flesh below the spots is brown or rotten. Thinks it is 

 possible the fungus is a symptom and not a cause of disease, but has not 

 examined the fish sufficiently carefully to speak positively. 



Has seen a fresh fish in a fishmonger's shop with the fungousy spot. The 

 fish was put aside as unfit to sell. It had a rotten place on the nose. 



When the diseased fish were first noticed the water was low. It cannot be 

 seen in high water on account of the floods. 



Has never taken the temperature. It is not taken by anyone on the Esk. 

 In 1877-8 there was nothing apparent to an ordinary observer to account for 

 the disease. 



