19 



Buries all dead fish. Has always done this. Has always seen dead fish, AYR. 



net diseased, with the beak growing through the head, so that they cannot 



feed. 



Has seen diseased fish at the mouth of the Glen. 



Has never been so high up as Loch Doon. 



The sluices at the outlet of Loch Doon have not been used for two years to 

 let down an artificial flood. They were made to be used in this way. 



Cannot suggest any remedy. Has seen no diseased fish since July. 

 Thinks it may be periodical, and may disappear after a time. Found 18 dead 

 diseased salmon altogether from 19th May 1879 up to 19th June 1879. 

 Did not count the sea-trout. There was a spring fish caught in tidal waters 

 at Doon Foot. 



Could not say how many were picked up dead by other persons — perhaps as 

 many more. Did not notice if they were males or females. 



Has no idea of the cause. 



Has not taken the temperature of the water. 



There are a few fish in the river. They did not get diseased. Saw several 

 eels, 15 inches long, in the tidal water in May and June touched with disease 

 behind the head. Saw two sniolts diseased in May and June 1879 in tidal 

 water. 



Benjamin Taylor, gamekeeper to Mr. Dunlop, Doonside. — Knows the 

 river three miles above the tideway. Mr. Dunlop fishes with the rod. Saw a 

 little disease at the end of September 1878. Paid little attention then, but 

 saw several sea-trout, and at the end of October some dead salmon, from 

 14 to 25 lbs. weight. They were covered with blotches on the head and 

 over the nose and in the mouth. The autumn was dry. There was no 

 pollution. There was a very small run of fish. Very few fish were caught 

 with the rod ; none so taken were diseased. Diseased fish will not take the 



Has known the Doon all his life. Nothing of this kind has ever happened 

 before. The disease is new. There was nothing exceptional in the water. 



Saw three parrs a fortnight ago. They were diseased on the tail, head, and 

 ventral fin. 



The fish have died in his water. Has found diseased sea-trout going down 

 the river and coming to the surface, 2 lbs. each, which were perfectly clean, 

 and straight from the sea. The fish were clean from the sea, and were drop- 

 ping down to sea again. At the same time got clean fish without disease. 

 Has seen 20 or 30 salmon, sea-trout, and parrs since September 1878. 



Last year the herlings came up in August. 



Got some large fish as early as November, and cut them open ; the flesh was 

 quite good and red. Fed his hens on them. Did not examine the intestines. 



The dry weather has had something to do with it. 1878 was exceptionally 

 dry. The frost came after September, and after the disease. 



The weather was very dry all the summer of 187S. There were a great 

 many decayed leaves in the river ; large quantities come down every year in 

 October, and stop the fishing. Has not noticed more mud in the river 

 than usual. The Doon is not very broad, but there was plenty of water for 

 all the fish in it. 



Has killed nearly 20 fish since July, and has seen no disease ; they were 

 particularly good. The catch was an average one, but there was too much 

 water. The grilse are better than before. Has had them weighing 12 lbs. 

 this year. The floods will wash the diseased fish to the sea. 



George McCre ade, fish merchant, Ayr. — Has known the Doon and the Ayr 

 all his life. Has had no diseased fish sent for sale. Thinks the disease is due to 

 the long spells of frost and to the confining of the fish in the little pools. 



Has never seen a diseased salmon. Has fisheries on the Stinchar. Never 

 got so many kelts — thin, bad kelts — as lately. There is no disease in the river. 

 There are dams and pollutions. 



Has only the sea fisheries. The salmon were the best he has seen this year. 

 His fishery extends from Troon to Loch Ryan. The quantity was small, but the 

 size and quality better than ever. 



The river was covered with ice in the winter. The frost began in the 

 end of November and lasted till April. There has been a wet season since. 

 1878 was a dry season. 



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