65 



The following is a return showing the proportion of spawned and un- BERYaCK-ON- 

 spawned fish :— TWEED. 



This includes 14 female salmon, clean fish, diseased. 



Could not say if these clean fish had been up the river and had fallen back 

 again. 



On 31st May got a diseased sea trout near the Whitadder which was put 

 into a floating cage in the water opposite the quay : the fish died on Sunday 

 week ; it had a sloughing sore, but it was quite healed when it died. The salt 

 water will cure the disease. A fish placed in pure fresh water at a distance 

 from the original place where it was taken will also heal. 



Urged that diseased fish should not be killed, because he thought they 

 would heal both in fresh and salt water. Was disinclined to urge the slaughter 

 of all diseased fish. Proposes to carry out experiments next spring. At 

 present little is known about it. 



Has considered the argument for an extended fishing season. The run of 

 fish up to September does little good to anglers. They do not take the fly 

 readily. They deteriorate. Thinks their ova do not come to maturity. 

 Thinks fishing should go on to 1st October. Has had charge of the experi- 

 ments carried on by the Tweed Commissioners for nine years, and has tested the 

 fish every year up to November and December, and has found them very good 

 indeed in October and November. Has seen three, four, or five fish tested in 

 October every year, and they have all been good. 



The anglers will object to an extension of the netting. The middle netters 

 propose another six hours' weekly close time. The lower proprietors would 

 object to this. 



Thinks if the fish were transferred up stream, and lay in the pools in the 

 middle of the summer, they would sicken and tend to disease. There would be 

 no objection to extending the clause as to restricting netting. The fish would 

 fall off in the upper waters, but the middle fishers would be benefited. 



The dead fish should be taken out and buried above high water flood mark. 



Smolts are certainly diseased. Sent one to Mr. Stirling. It was a salmon 

 smolt, diseased under the throat. It had its sea-going dress on. 



The sea-trout are also diseased. Perch, trout, and eels are diseased. Has 

 heard of grayling diseased, but has not seen them. 



If a market can be found, the bull-trout kelts should be killed. Would 

 hesitate as to salmon kelts. Salmon kelts would be taken and sold as bull- 

 trout kelts, and bull-trout would be sold as salmon. The watchers would 

 have to be more numerous. There would be unpleasantness between the 

 watchers and the fishers. 



The preservation of kelts has tended to increase the size of the fish. To 

 kill them would reduce the size. 



P 712. „ 



