BRIGHT. 



12 



^JESFrP" The Nith and Dee resemble one another very much. Cannot say whic 



has most water. Ine Dee has an advantage in Loch Ken. 



There are no grayling in the Dee, but plenty of minnows. There are pike 

 and perch in Loch Ken, and they are injurious to the salmon. Has had a 

 pike upwards of 60 lbs. in weight. Angling is prohibited by the proprietors. 

 Has never seen pike diseased. 



Deep draining has seriously affected the river. When he first came here a 

 heavy flood would last for a month ; now the river will run down in three or 

 four days. The river is either empty or full. 



Knows nothing about the temperature. 



The fish have increased in size the last 10 or 12 years. The average size 

 of grilse is 12 or 14 lbs. The biggest salmon killed for many years was 

 caught last year, weighing 48 lbs. 



Many kelts die naturally and float down the river dead. They are washed 

 ashore and eaten by pigs. There is no regular system here of collecting 

 dead fish. It would be well if it were so. Most dead fish come ashore. It 

 would be well if authority were given to officers and watchers to collect and 

 bury dead fish. Thinks that nobody would be interfered with who did this 

 here. 



Has heard of very many dead kelts being found, particularly on the Tarfe, 

 but has not seen many. 



The Dee is a rather late river. Approves of the present close time. Con- 

 demns rod fishing so late as the end of October. Would allow it up to 15th 

 October. This is quite late enough. It is a pity to kill spawning fish on the 

 ridds by the fly. Adheres to his opinion expressed in his letter published in 

 the Report on Scotch Salmon Fisheries, 1870 (p. 72). Would perhaps allow 

 fishing up to the end of September with rods. 



There was no remarkable run of fish in the autumn of 1877 here, such as 

 that stated to have occurred in the Nith and Annan. 



James Gillone, tacksman of the fishings in the Dee two miles above 

 Kirkcudbright. — Fishes with a shoulder net. Has had the fishery four years. 

 The numbers of fish have a little improved. His father had the fishings before 

 him. The Dee is well stocked this year. Knows the Nith. The stock in 

 the Dee is better than that in the Nith ; therefore the disease should have 

 appeared here if overcrowding were the cause. There was no particular run in 

 1877- The spawning tributaries are well filled this year. It was a very 

 bad season last year. The previous year was very good. 



Has seen very little disease. Saw a kelt this year with white scurf on the 

 fins. His men have seen no others. They would have seen them if they had 

 been there. The fish was caught by a fly. The fish was affected with fungus 

 on the fins and head. He was quite lively. It was a pretty good kelt of 

 9 lbs. weight. Has never seen diseased fish in the Annan. 



Has formed no theory as to the cause of the disease. 



Sees no difference between the Nith and Dee to account for it. About 

 equal numbers of fish spawn above and below Loch Ken. 



In 1877 there was a fair number of spawning fish. There were very few in 

 1878. Is speaking of the spring of the year. This spring there was a fair 

 number. The beds were not overcrowded. 



The Nith runs quicker than the Dee in the upper waters. 



Would approve of the burial of dead kelts. 



The fish are earlier in the Nith than the Dee, and earlier still in the Eden. 



Thinks the fish feed on the shrimps in the sea. 



Regularly gets fish marked with the whammel nets ; the marks are some- 

 times a little f ungousy. The fish were not freshly marked, but were getting 

 well. This was in fresh water. 



There are eels in the Dee ; they are not fished. 



James Penny, manager for Mr. Anderson, tacksman of the Mid-Dee 

 fishings, which extend from half a mile above Kirkcudbright to one mile below. 

 — The water is tidal. Mr. Anderson has held the fishery since 1876. The 

 fishing is rather falling off. The two first years were good. The season has 

 been bad, owing to the whether. There is nothing wrong with the river. 



Saw a supposed diseased salmon with a small white spot on the cheeks. 

 Saw two clean grilse in July — one this year and one last year, taken in tidal 

 water. Does not think the fish had been long in the river. They were 



