17 



*' brought to my rooms here four samples of water connected with the dis- AYR. 



" charges from the Jellieston pit, and marked 1, 2, 3, and 4. These waters I 



*' have carefully analysed with the following results : — 



" In Imperial gallon. No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. 



" Persulphate of iron 

 " Persulphate of alumina 

 " Sulphate of lime 

 " Sulphate of magnesia - 

 " Free sulphuric acid and 



" other saline com- 



" pounds - - 30-24 „ 6"6.9 „ 8-36 „ 875 „ 



. "Total matter in Imp. gal. 13504 „ 28-86 „ 34-42 „ 34-56 „ 



" These results prove the waters are more or less impregnated with the noxious 

 " ferruginous matters, and especially No. 1 sample must be injurious to fish. 

 *' It is manifest, therefore, that the discharges from the Jellieston pit are of the 

 " same nature as the discharges which previously flowed from No. 2 Carnochan 

 " pit. I further examined two fish which were received from Mr. Macrorie, 

 " and can find no trace of the fungi which are characteristic of the disease 

 " prevalent in several rivers last year. The disease in question is well known 

 " in rivers polluted by sewage, dreg-, and refuse dye stuffs, &c. from manu- 

 * ( factories, and I have investigated the matter in several rivers during the last 

 " six years. 



" (Signed) Stevenson MacAdam." 



The discharge has now been effectually cured. The works to carry this out 

 have been in operation since April. The Doon is now practically unpolluted. 



The fish have not been so numerous since the discharge in 1878. The Doon 

 is considerably understocked. 



Traces of disease were first seen in October 1878, but his own attention was 

 not drawn to it till the spring of 1879. Only saw very few diseased fish. 



Instructed the bailiff to bury all dead fish. Sent a specimen to Mr. 

 Buckland in May 1879. 



The last fish was caught on the first Saturday in July this year. According 

 to his observation, the diseased fish were mainly clean run. 



The Doon is an early river, the fish running in February, March, and 

 April, 



Was fishing in June, and saw a fish floating about alive in a pool. He 

 secured it; it was a spring fish, 12 lbs., with disease on the head, gills, and 

 tail. It was one mile below Carnochan pits. It was apparently quite healthy 

 in other respects. He showed the fish to two other men, and they cut the fish 

 in two, and the flesh was perfectly red. It was eaten, and they reported that 

 it was as good a fish as they ever ate. Does not think the fish was internally 

 affected. 



It was a skin disease. It was floating alive near the top of the water. One 

 of its eyes was affected. Never before heard of any such disease. It is a new 

 disease. The suggestion has been made that it may arise from decomposition 

 of vegetable matter, owing to the peculiar season of 1877- 



At Ayr there was 50 -12" inches of rainfall in 1877, the average being about 

 36 inches. In 1878 it was 30 ■ 92. The River Doon is rapid in the upper 

 parts. A considerable portion of the upper part is a mossy bog. The burns 

 here run from pasture land. 



In the wet seasons hay, &c. is washed into the water. This has always 

 happened, but especially in very wet seasons. 1877 was the second wettest 

 season for the last 30 years. The rainfall in 1872 was 51 '69 inches. In 1862 

 it was 50- 12 inches. 1877 was followed by an exceptionally dry year. 



Below Loch Doon the river is pure. The upper portion is grassy and 

 boggy. There is almost no arable land till you come to Patna ; after that both 

 crops and pasture, mainly pasture. 



Loch Doon has not saved the Doon from disease. 



Does not think it possible that the disease can have been carried by birds 

 from the head waters of one river to those of another. 



P 712. B 



