54 



Collingwood Arms Hotel, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Wednesday, 



October 1st, 1879. 



Present : 



Frank Buckland, Spencer Walpole, and Archibald Young, 



Esquires. 



COKNHILL. John CoLLiNGWOOD,Comhill. — Owns a fishery on the Tweed extending from 

 ON-TWEED. Cornhill down to Norham. Did not take much notice of the disease in former 



years. His water is netted. Kelts and all kinds are caught in February, March, 



and April. Salmon kelts are taken in May. In former years the kelts were a 

 little diseased. There was not so much fungus as now. It was like a sore 

 without so much fungus. Cannot say if the fish died. 



The clean fish took it from the kelts. First saw it last year on clean fish, 

 taken with rod on February 1st. It went on up to May and June. Saw one 

 half dead by the side of the river in April. This was the only one this year. 

 The clean fish had it on the head, not so much on the eyes, but on the sides. 

 It was a small fish weighing 10 lbs. fresh from the sea. Knows of several seen 

 by his men which were taken with the net. They were not very badly diseased. 

 They were killed and buried. 



There were a good many kelts in the river ; they were later than usual — the 

 trout especially. There were not more than usual. The water was higher 

 than usual, with snow water. 



Thinks there are too many fish in the water and on the spawning beds. The 

 nets are taken off too soon. There are a great many fish up the river now, but 

 none here. 



The disease is only among the kelts, originating there and spreading to the 

 clean fish. Knows a man who saw one or two diseased kelts rubbing against 

 clean salmon. This would occur every year. Cannot say why the clean fish 

 did not get affected formerly. The disease this year is the same as before, but 

 more virulent. It is not a new disease. The fish are half dead. Has seen 

 them half dead years ago. They will rush into the water if touched. 



To decrease the stock of fish the trout kelts should be killed. The nets 

 should fish to 1st October. The trout run in October. Many would be killed 

 at the end of October. 



The take in the Tweed has been less than formerly during the last 20 years. 

 The stock of fish must therefore be less. 



There was less drainage in former years, and the floods lasted a week or 

 more. The river cannot cany so many fish now in consequence. Netting 

 should be extended a fortnight. Rod fishers would object to this, as ang- 

 ling would be less productive. The assessment value of the Tweed would be 

 reduced, but more fish would be caught. The nets should begin on 14th 

 February, and rods should also commence at the same time as now. 



All kelts, trout kelts especially, should be killed by net and rod. 



Bull-trout kelts go to France. The great run of bull trout is in the first half 

 of October. 



Pollutions have something to do with the disease. Has fished in Norway 

 for six years, and never saw any disease there. The Norway rivers are frozen 

 over till May. The disease has nothing to do with snow or frost. There was 

 more snow this year than in other years. 



Dead fish should be buried, and diseased fish in all stages should be 

 killed. 



Perhaps they recover when they get to the sea. Does not think they can get 

 to the salt water from here. 



All bull-trout kelts should be killed and sold. Has tasted kelt bull-trout. 

 They are not good, but some people are glad to eat them. 



The fishermen who kill them by the rod must sell them. It is legal in 

 Scotland. The sale of fish is a difficult point. 



Knows the Coquet. The bull-trout run up there till the 1 4th October. It 

 used to be a salmon river. 



Has marked thousands of trout kelts for several years, and never saw one 

 return. 



