21 



Cannot suggest any remedy. Has no doubt the dead fish should be re- KESWICK 



moved; would advocate diseased fish being taken out as well, even if alive, 



and buried. 



The Derwent is a very late river. The fish seldom run up till July and 

 August ; and if the river is low they do not come till September. They then 

 lie below the coops at Workington. There has been more water this year than 

 the year before, which was very dry. The river was exceptionally low two 

 years ago. It was not so low last year as the year before. It has been excep- 

 tionally high this year. It was supposed that the reason of the river being so 

 much lower than the Eden was the temperature, but his brother, the late Mr. 

 J. Fletcher, M.P., and Mr. Hodgson, of Carlisle, kept records of the tempera- 

 ture, and they found that there was no difference between the two rivers. 



John Benson, Cockermouth. — Has known the Derwent for 24 years, and 

 has taken much trouble with the protection of it. The fish have increased, and 

 more fish have been killed by the rod than formerly. The fish are chiefly 

 killed between Cockermouth and Bassenthwaite. There are more fish than 

 there used to be. 



Has fished the Eden. The fish in the Derwent are not so much spread 

 about as in the Eden. . 



Does not know if Mr. Dalzell has any opinion as to the produce of the 

 river. 



Has received a letter from Mr. Dalzell, stating.that he believes the disease was 

 caused by overstocking; that the river is late, and no large salmon come up 

 till after the netting season, and suggesting that the open season should be 

 prolonged. 



The disease was first seen two years ago in the autumn of 1877, about 

 September or October. Some fish were caught by rod, and others were seen 

 with white marks. The fish were not ready for spawning. Only a few were 

 noticed here and there. The disease showed more as the fish increased. The 

 fish were in about the usual quantity. The fish were seen because the river 

 was low. They lived some time, but died eventually. Others got to the sea 

 and were washed up by the tide. The disease in the spring was more appa- 

 rent, because there were more fish. 



When they came up the next year there were not so many fish. Has only 

 heard of one diseased fish up to this time. It was a temporary disease, and 

 the cause was temporary. Never noticed anything of the kind before, but 

 has heard of it before. This was the worst outbreak he ever heard of. Has 

 heard old men say they had seen diseased fish. 



It extended below Bassenthwaite. The Derwent has the two great lakes 

 of Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater. The Cocker has three lakes. The river 

 nevertheless falls very low. Last year it was almost dry. 



The disease was not caused by cold, as the weather was not cold when it first 

 appeared. 



The trout were diseased. Does not know about parr. 



Thought at first it was from weeds, &c. in the river decaying. There was 

 not more than usual in the autumn of 1877. Thought the fish required more 

 oxygen. 



Does not agree with the overstocking theory. The river is sufficiently 

 stocked if it is not high, but it would hold more spawning fish this year. 



The kelts get well mended in the lake but not in the river, and come out as 

 silvery as they get in the sea. 



The overstocking theory is only a bid for altering the close season. Thinks 

 the nets at the mouth of the river take all the fish. The adjustment between 

 upper and lower proprietors is correct as it is. 



Cannot say if the disease originated in the river or elsewhere. The specimens 

 produced are like the fish he has seen. Has seen a scurfy mark, as if the 

 males had been fighting. Could see nothing but the scales rubbed off. 

 Cannot say if the fungus had been rubbed off. Never cut into a fish to 

 examine it. 



The river is fairly clean. It is polluted by coal works, and very badly near 

 the mouth of the river by a tin plate works. The fish are killed by the vitriol 

 Does not attribute the disease to the pollution. Does not know of any steps 

 taken to stop the pollution. The works are going now. 



The disease, he thinks, appeared at the same time in the Eden and the 

 Derwent. Has not heard of it in the Ehen, Irt, Mite, Calder, &c. 



