26 



CARLISLE. " which possibly might have been affected before passing the weir at 



" Armathwaite. A hard frost set in about the beginning of the spawning 



" season in the lower district, and the few fish on the spawning beds below 

 " Armathwaite in December were compelled, through ground ice, to leave the 

 " spawning streams and fall back into the pools, where odd ones were seen 

 " to be affected by the disease. The frost continued until the 14th of January 

 " 1879, when a thaw set in, which removed the ground ice from the streams, 

 " and numbers of salmon took the spawning beds between Carlisle and 

 " Warwick, and several of the fish were again seen affected with the disease. 

 " A hard frost again set in on the 20th of the same month, which continued 

 " until the 5th of February, the river being entirely frozen over during the 

 " time. Between the 6th and 10th of February the Eden and tributaries ran 

 " in high flood ; the ice was cleared away, and large numbers of salmon 

 " ascended the river, and the spawning beds between Carlisle and Armath- 

 " waite, and also in the rivers Irthing and Gelt, were well stocked with large 

 " breeding salmon, and odd ones were seen to be affected with the disease 

 " when spawning. Odd ones were also seen on the spawning beds of the 

 " rivers Irthing and Gelt, and which had no doubt been affected before 

 " leaving the river Eden. The greatest number of diseased and dead fish 

 " were seen in the months of March and April, and as the summer advanced 

 " the disease gradually disappeared, only four having been found dead in the 

 " Eden below Warwick since July last, and none in the upper district. The 

 " total number of fish buried from October 1 878 up to this date is 398, about 

 " 40 of which were clean salmon. Only five were found in the river Caldew 

 " and in the Eden above Armathwaite about 30 diseased fish. 



" John Nicholson, 



" Inspector." 



The Board authorised him to take steps to check disease, and he instructed 

 the bailiffs to remove all diseased fish. They did so in the spring and autumn 

 of 1878, and also this year. 



The numbers quoted do not include the fish buried by owners of private 

 fisheries and others, whom he asked to take similar steps. 



The disease was much less destructive in 1879 than in 1878. There were 

 fewer fish in the river. The proportion of diseased fish might be the same. 

 The kelts were chiefly affected in 1879, and the clean fish in 1878. Explains 

 this by the fact that the spawning fish were injured this year by the floating 

 ice, and the injured fish had a tendency to contract the disease. The disease 

 is on the decrease, and, like most epidemics, has run its course, for the time at 

 least. 



The specimens produced are the same as the disease in the Eden. 



Communicated with Mr. Stirling, curator of the Anatomical Museum of 

 Edinburgh University, in order to endeavour to discover some means of curing 

 the disease. Mr. Nicholson saw some fish in a pool in Holme Head Bay in the 

 Caldew in February last, and caught seven fish in the pool, which were sent 

 to Mr. Stirling. (Hands in specimens of the fungus prepared by Mr. Stirling.) 



There is a theory that the disease is traceable to the absence of frost in 1877, 

 and to the warm winter. The fish referred to were under the ice for many 

 weeks, and frost, therefore, has no effect in curing the disease. 



(Hands in a letter from Mr. Nicholson and two from Mr. Stirling on the fish 

 referred to.) 



" Constabulary Station, Eden Town, 

 " Sir, ' 5th February 1879. 



" I beg most respectfully to report that on the 16th of January 1878 

 " five fish were seen in a pool at Holme Head in the river Caldew, one of 

 " which had a small white spot on the end of its nose. On the 19th other two 

 " fish were put into the same pond, making a total of seven. On the 20th 

 " two diseased fish were seen in the pool, and, a hard frost setting in, they 

 " were not seen again until the 4th of February, and four of them were then 

 " affected by the disease. They were caught on the following day, and 

 " forwarded to Mr. A. B. Stirling, Edinburgh. 



" I have, &c. 

 " J. Dunne, Esq. J- Nicholson." 



