The netting season should be extended for a fortnight. The fish do not CORNHILL- 

 take in September. ON-TWEED. 



William Johnston, fisherman. — Has fished for 50 years on Tweedside. 

 Saw the disease 50 years ago. Saw fungus on the fish then. Another 

 man told him it was through fish fighting on the beds. Never saw it on clean 

 salmon before, but chiefly among kippers. This year it has been among clean 

 salmon. The clean fish, coming in contact with the kelts, have been 

 infected. 



Has seen the scab aud fungus coming together. Plenty of bull-trout, 

 grayling, minnows, and all Tweed fish were affected this year. It has dis- 

 appeared now (October). 



Pollutions are a bad thing. Fishes are liable to disease, like anything 

 else. 



The crowding together of fish in small pools might be a cause. Has thought 

 for some years that the Tweed is overstocked. Would allow kelts to be killed 

 in February. The bull-trout kelts eat the smolts in the spring. Would give 

 another fortnight's fishing. The salmon are decreasing. There are more bull- 

 trout now than 20 years ago, but fewer salmon. Would allow only four 

 months' close time, as formerly. The fisheries would be improved, and the 

 disease reduced. 



Never knew any fresh-run salmon diseased ; they had all been up the river, 

 and had come down to the lower waters. The salt water would cure the fish. 

 When diseased the fish all seek the salt water. 



Would have a month longer netting. Fewer fish spawned formerly than 

 now, and there are too many to spawn now. Found fewer dead salmon 

 formerly. 



Bull-trout sometimes fetch \d. per lb. more than salmon. The French like 

 to boil the fish whole, and so prefer the smaller fish. The fish go in ice to 

 Dover by rail. 



The quantity of water in the river is altered by drainage. 



The river is overstocked at this season. A month longer should be given 

 for netting. 



Henry Johnston, fisherman, Cornhill. — Has fished for 56 years with the 

 net. The river has changed ; it is not so big as formerly. The drainage is the 

 cause. The marshy ground is drained which used to keep the river up. It 

 has fallen away fo? 30 years. 



The fish run up all the year. In the summer they cannot get past Cornhill. 

 The fish make a rush up after the nets are off. A small fresh will bring a 

 few fish up. More fish are in the river now for breeding. They were formerly 

 killed in the upper waters by leisters. Used to catch most hens when 

 leistering. The superfluous fish were kept down. Some of the fish were fit 

 to eat ; some of them were not. 



There are too many breeding fish in the river. The netting season should 

 be kept open a month longer. Every kelt should be killed. 



The fish are bigger in general than formerly. Saw salmon as big 50 years 

 ago as now, but not so many of them. 



The rods should fish all through the year. There are plenty of fish past 

 the nets this year, as far up as Peebles. The nets are off from 6 p.m. on 

 Saturday to 6 a.m. on Monday. Would agree to take off his nets at noon on 

 Saturday if another three weeks were given at the end of the year. 



Plenty of smolts came up last spring. A few salmon spawn down here. 



John Fulton, fisherman to Mr. Milne Home. — Has seen diseased fish — 

 kelts — for many years in the Tweed. The disease this year appears the same. 

 The spots are the same. The kelts exhibit the same symptoms. There is 

 nothing particular in the river this year to account for it. 



The river is much more stocked than formerly. The old style of fishing 

 was different. 



Too many big old fish go up. Would give a month longer as formerly, i.e., 

 fishing to 15th October instead of 15th September. Would not alter the close 

 time for rods. Would sanction the killing of kelts, by spearing, and all modes. 

 Has talked with Mr. Milne Home about the disease, but does not agree with 

 him. 



James Gray. — Has heard the evidence as to extending the fishing season. 

 Thinks it would be beneficial. AVould give 6 or 12 hours weekly close time in 



