45 



" 2nd. That the remedy clearly was to provide ample means to allow of KELSO. 

 " the fish following their instincts and attaining the sea. 



" 3rd. That when the river was very low, especially in the spring months, it 

 " became infested with the lower forms of vegetable life. This I have 

 " repeatedly proved by examination. When so impregnated, a good flood at 

 " once frees it from such, and this freedom continues for weeks. That the 

 " disease had occurred in the Tweed at intervals in all times, and was no new 

 " disease, I remember distinctly as a boy, again and again. Of course you 

 " know of all that Mr. Stirling has written on the subject, in regard to the 

 " late epidemic on the Eden and Esk which is without the slightest doubt the 

 " same disease that occurs in the Tweed. He has named the fungus 

 " ' Saprolegniaferax,' an imperfect terrestral condition of which is common 

 " on house flies in autumn. You may have seen flies sticking to the windows 

 " with a whitish efflorescence around and on them— that is the fungus. But 

 " I am very doubtful of the true nature and affinities of the growth. This 

 " Saprolegnia is figured in ' Cook's British Fungi,' Vol. II. page 639." 



Has seen the disease for many years. Never before had an opportunity of 

 seeing it on clean fish. The disease in former years had the same symptoms 

 as thfs year, but the fish were not so rapid as this year. It is possible that 

 there is a disease this year under the fungus. There is a British cholera and 

 a foreign cholera. Some medical men say cholera is neither contagious nor 

 infectious. There may be a new disease. The state of the water and various 

 things may have made the disease more intense. Allowing dead fish to lie 

 in the water has helped to cause the disease. 



The prohibition of the killing of kelts has helped to do this. The river 

 should be opened much later for rods, and kelts should be killed and kept if 

 in good condition. Bad kelts should be killed and buried. Would repeal the 

 law making the killing of kelts illegal. The river should not open till the 15th 

 March or 1st April. 



The nets are off on the 1st September. 



The conditions of the river are altered. Recollects when 26 and 2/lbs. 

 were the biggest fish. Many of 30 and up to 40 lbs. are now caught. They 

 come up much later. Some gentlemen killing fish with the spear killed 300 

 spawning fish in September a good many years ago. 



Was once in favour of preserving kelts. Many of the kelts die, and now 

 thinks that after a certain date they should be killed and kept. A kelt 

 improves after a certain time. Has seen them when they could not be dis- 

 tinguished from clean fish. A minnow is a proper bait with two lip-hooks. 

 Hat known it used with nine hooks. Fish so wounded must die. The clean 

 fish coming among a number of kelts must be affected. Recollects when the 

 fish used only to reach a point where pollutions will not lie. 



There are many grayling in the Teviot; many of them were diseased this 

 spring. A boy at Maxwellheugh took five grayling', all diseased. They have 

 been nearly extinguished this year. They eat the ova from the beds. 



Does not know of eels being affected. Minnows are scarce this year. 

 Cannot say if they are diseased. 



Has found fish inflamed from the vent upwards when attempting to get up 

 the caulds when heavy in spawn. They are injured at the head and vent ; 

 this predisposes to disease. Has seen fungus floating by itself in the water. 

 It comes off the fish, or may be bred in some other way. 

 The fungus increases after the kelt is dead. 



David Kerse. — Lives two miles ,below Kelso. Has been a fisherman on 

 the Sprouston water all his life. His father was fisherman for /9 years. 

 Recollects the Tweed for 30 years or more. Always saw traces of disease to a 

 certain extent, but it was different from what is seen now. Generally the 

 male fish were diseased through fighting ; they were mostly kippers. They 

 had fungus. This was in the spring months— January, February, and March. 

 They were covered with white fungus. It attacks fish all over. Has seen 

 dead fish with fungus. It is no new thing in the Tweed. 



This year when he commenced fishing in February he often saw fish 

 running five or six yards along the top of the water. They were attacked 

 with a serious disease. There were clean fish, and kelts as well. They had a 

 sort of fungus ; this follows the disease. The disease at first is like a sort of 

 white spot on the head, and the liver gets all affected. Has seen a white spot 



