31 



Has seen crows and rooks eating dead fish. The hooded crows would eat CARLISLE, 



them. Thinks it not impossible that the fungus was carried from head-water 



to head-water by birds. 



Ascribes the disease to a low state of water; with a large number of fish in 

 the river, and little water. Would expect to see the fish diseased. 



There was a heavy run of fish in September 1877, after the nets were off. 

 This helped to increase the crowd at Armathwaite. Many of them got over the 

 bay. The disease was not so bad in that autumn. Did not see any diseased 

 fish. 



Many fish — hundreds — came up afterwards in November and December 

 that did not get over Armathwaite. They came up to the 1st February. 



Knows nothing of the disease in other rivers. 



Agrees with Mr. Dunne's recommendations. The half-dead fish should be 

 killed. 



The intestines of the dead fish were healthy. Some of the fish had a can- 

 cerous sore beneath the outside spot. Has not seen fish with any disease in the 

 mouth. It was always outside. The gills of some have been choked up. 

 [Produces specimen found below Irthing Foot.~] 



It is covered all over with a whitey-brown fungus, and the gills are affected. 

 The fish is in a bad condition and lean. 



The Board should be empowered to authorise anyone besides water-bailiffs 

 to take out dead fish. 



Thinks it is a fresh water disease. Fish getting down to the salt water 

 would be cured. The fungus drops off and the sore heals. Has no idea of the 

 cause of disease, and cannot suggest a cure. 



Has always buried dead fish since he was here, but not so carefully as since 

 the disease appeared. 



1874 was a very good year; also 1877. They were the two best seasons. 

 10,000 is a very small estimate of the catch of salmon. Cannot say how many 

 were taken in 1877. The take much increased in 1877 as compared with 

 1876. 



Captain George Johnson. — Is a member of the Eden Board. Resides 

 on the Irthing, a tributary of the Eden. First heard of the disease about 

 two years ago. Has not seen many diseased fish. The Irthing has been free 

 from the disease. The Irthing has always had the ordinary diseased kelts. 

 Presumes this is different from the new disease. His idea is, that the disease, 

 being caused by overcrowding, will not occur in the Irthing. 



The fish he has seen in the Irthing have been diseased chiefly in the head, 

 with white spots, sometimes on the tail, sometimes all over the body, and 

 always with fungus. Has been accustomed to see this all his life on both 

 dead and live kelts. Thinks the disease is the ordinary malady to which all 

 unhealthy fish are liable, aggravated by overcrowding and other causes. 



Knows of no other remedy but stamping out by burying and killing all 

 diseased fish. 



The opening up of Armathwaite would do good, as the fish which have 

 failed to get up and accumulated below have had a tendency to disease. No 

 disease has been seen above Armathwaite. 



The disease has diminished the stock of fish in the river. The last year 

 there has not been a good stock. 



James H. Parker. — Has been a member of the Esk and Liddle Fishery 

 Association for seven years. The disease has been very bad in the Esk. 

 There were a large stock of fish for two or three years before 1877- In the winter 

 of 1875-6 there were more dead kippers than before. The disease broke out 

 in the autumn of 1877- The dead fish were nearly all small, mostly partially 

 spawned. They had no particular disease. There were no spots or fungus 

 Would not say if there was not a little. 



The disease in 1877 was entirely new. First saw dead fish in the autumn of 

 1877, and counted 48 in one poolside on the sand, averaging 20 lbs. each. 

 They were covered with fungus. Captured many diseased kelts with the fly 

 and with shrimps in the spring of 1877. The fish had a white spot and no 

 fungus. 



Thinks the white spot is a disease, and the fungus attaches itself to the 

 diseased flesh. Believes it attaches itself to all diseased fish and all diseased 

 flesh. The white spot should be kept in view as the origin. Has seen it from 

 the size of a pin's head to three or four inches across. 



