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BERWICK-ON weeks) the fish were 1 lb. less in each month than the fish taken by him on 

 TWEED. the average. They fell off in the upper tidal waters, and still more so in the 

 fresh water higher up. 



During the 16 days of the September fishing more fish are caught. On 

 13th September this year over 70 salmon were taken in one tide at one station 

 — 48 in one net. The great run of fish was only then beginning. 



[Produces table showing the periods at which the fish are taken.~\ 

 The trout crop is exhausted by the middle of the summer. 

 The grilse are much the same. 



With salmon the highest take is at the very end of the season. There are 

 apparently three shoals of fish coining in. The mass of trout run in June - y 

 the autumn school run after 30th September. 



Would be in favour of extending the net season for the benefit of all parties. 

 The date should be decided by experiment. The returns of former years might 

 be referred to. The proposal would be for the general good. Some of the 

 upper proprietors might object, but they would not suffer. The rod fishing 

 would not be interfered with. 



Would not kill the salmon kelts. Thinks the kelts come back as clean 

 fish. 



Believes the bull-trout do not come back as clean trout, and there is no 

 increase in their size or number. If they do not come back they go to Yar- 

 mouth. Bull-trout kelts should be killed if they do not return. Has it 

 recorded that they have been caught at Yarmouth and Tynemouth. 



Formerly the sale of kelts was legal. Cannot say where they were sold. 

 An upper proprietor told him that the kelts were killed annually, and fetched 

 30/. or 40/. a year. 



Many bull-trout might be sold as salmon. This would not interfere with 

 the prosperity of the salmon fishing. Has no other recommendation to 

 make. 



The disease is quite new to him. 



The fungus only appeared formerly on the kelts, and so did not excite 

 attention. The breaking out of the disease on clean fish and in other rivers 

 has attracted attention. 



Would prefer the close time to be made a hard and fast line, and not be 

 liable to change by local byelaws, as there might be much difficulty in settling 

 any change. The close time could be altered with advantage. 



Thinks the fish have been predisposed to disease by overcrowding in the 

 pools. Thinks the origin of the disease has not been found out. Thinks the 

 fish get too many in a pool, fall into a low state, and contract disease. 



Will do anything he can to make experiments ; but is unable to suggest 

 any steps. 



R. B. Weatherhead, solicitor, Berwick. — Has heard the evidence, and has 

 paid much attention to the Tweed from his infancy. The cause of the pre- 

 disposition to the disease is the overcrowding of the pools. Fish of all kinds 

 require much oxygen. If the water is not aerated they will not live. They 

 absorb all the oxygen if overcrowded, and become predisposed to disease. 

 Diphtheria is caused by malarious exhalations, and the fungoid growth 

 on the fish is somewhat similar. The want of oxygen in the water will pre- 

 dispose to, if not actually cause, the disease. Has observed the description 

 given by Mr. List of the three stages of the disease. Has only seen two or 

 three diseased fish. There was a fungus as well as a suppurating sore ; and a 

 sore without the fungus. Cannot say whether the fungus or the sore is the 

 cause or the effect. 



The disease is a fresh-water disease. Thinks salt water may cure it. In the 

 tideway the fish get more aerated water. Thinks whenever fresh water is 

 given in sufficient quantity the disease could be cured. The salt water is the 

 natural element of the salmon : when they enter the fresh water they become 

 weakened, and lose colour, fat, and health. 



Thinks the fungus is contagious. The overcrowding of the fish tends to 

 disease. There are too many spawners. 



Would make a fixed rule as to the sale of kelts ; but would make much 

 more stringent laws as to the killing of baggits. The kelts would be well out 

 of the water. His father was one of the directors of the company. The com- 

 pany were unwilling to kill the kelts, but some fishermen and occupiers at 



