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Tlie Tweed water is used for man and beast. KELSO. 



Is not in favour of killing kelts. Bull-trout kelts might be killed by the 



rod. They may betaken now (October). Does not think they are increasing 

 very much. 



Joseph Bennett, Printer, Kelso. — Has known the Tweed all his life. 

 Has sent specimens of diseased fish to Mr. Stirling. They were affected with 

 white spots and fungus on the nose. There was never a white spot without 

 fungus. One was a minnow and one a common trout. The eyes of the trout 

 were affected. It was like a scale on the eye. It was a fat fish. The fins of 

 one were marked with white. Saw it the first time this year. Thinks it is a 

 new disease. 



It has been seen now and again, but the recent disease is of a more destruc- 

 tive character than has ever been seen or heard of. 



Every angler knows that great mortality existed last year amongst kelts 

 during the heat of the summer. At this season great numbers are affected 

 with a disease of the gills or lungs, from which they seem to suffer very acute 

 pain from the way in which they throw themselves about in the river. Has 

 seen many instances of this. Believes it to be caused by the low and polluted 

 state of the river and the hot atmosphere. The river is polluted to a large 

 extent from various sources, and the confinement of the fish to pools, where 

 healthy and unhealthy are compelled to remain together until a heavy flood 

 sets them at liberty, tends to disease. A light flood does far more harm than 

 none at all, as it only stirs up the sediment which he thinks has a good deal 

 to do with the disease in the gills. Great numbers of fish die in these pools 

 during the hot weather, and if they are allowed to remain in the river, it is no 

 wonder that a disease of a more virulent form should succeed. Thinks the 

 purulent matter of these diseased fish embedded in the river has been the 

 cause of the disease. 



Believes that the severe winter had- a good deal to do in bringing about this 

 as the fish were encased in ice for a long period, and would have, through 

 necessity, to seek their food in the bed of the river ; and in the search for food, 

 they got inoculated by the purulent matter which afterwards took the form 

 of the fungus disease. 



Has no doubt that if the diseased fish were taken from the river, and the 

 water rendered a little more pure, disease would soon disappear. 



Approves of water-bailiffs removing the fish ; it was done so before last 

 year. Sea trout, eels, pike, perch, and all fish in the Tweed have been 

 affected. 



Thinks the impurity of the pools would help to create disease. 



Diseased fish of all kinds should be removed. 



Kelts, especially bull-trout kelts, should be killed after a certain date. Bull- 

 trout kelts do much harm to smolts and ova. 



The water was warm and shalloAv when he observed the disease. Has seen 

 a salmon smolt diseased — only one ; it was alive, at Kelso Bridge, lying close to 

 the gravel. 



Never tried inoculating fish. 



Thinks old kelts eat salmon fry. Never saw one do it. Has never 

 examined one. The bull trout spawns, he thinks, before the salmon. 



Archibald Steel, fishmonger, Kelso. — Sells many salmon for Berwick. 

 Has observed no traces of disease in Berwick salmon. Has seen plenty of 

 fungus disease at Kelso as far back as he can remember. 



Used to fish for trout when he was at school, and found them diseased. 

 They were mostly fidl fish. Has seen diseased salmon with fungus on them. 

 They would have been in the river some time and losing their bright colour. 

 Has seen it this year, and thinks it is the same disease. Thinks it has been 

 increased by the severe winter, owing to the confinement of the fish in the 

 pools before spawning. 



Has noticed fish alive diseased, and they have been in pain. In former 

 years it was just about the same. Has opened diseased fish. The diseased 

 fish are quite as good as healthy fish. Has found two diseased fish with a 

 bad liver, light coloured, with small white ticks, and enlarged. 



The disease is the same as in former years, but aggravated. 



All diseased fish should be removed. Would take out living fish as well as 

 dead. 



