77 



commencement of the disease, and that the fungus got on the fish in the EDINBURGH. 

 stagnant pools in the river. There was a yellowish sloughing sore, like as if 

 the skin had been burnt. 



Robert Shortred, fisherman to the Nest Angling Club, Galashiels. — 

 Has been so for 30 years. The club fishery is three miles above Ettrick- 

 mouth. Has seen plenty of disease on salmon for 3U years, but not so much 

 as lately. The fish were kelts forming, i.e., spawned fish. Fresh-water trout 

 and grayling have had it the last two years. Never saw clean salmon 

 with it before. The appearance was the same on all fish, like a white spot 

 and an inflamed mouth ; the liver was nearly rotten. Has opened a few ; the 

 liver was always rotten when they were far gone. 



[Specimen produced of a diseased Tweed fish. ~\ 



It is lighter in colour than what he has seen. Thinks it is the same disease; 

 Never saw it before on fresh water trout and grayling. 



It was long before the fish got on to the spawning beds last year because 

 of the ice. The female fish lie in the pools if they cannot get on io the spawn- 

 ing beds. The eggs will come out. They will not lie more than six weeks, 

 but will lie six days. They will not lie long if they are ripe to spawn. The 

 eggs 'will run out. 



Never saw any clean salmon diseased. The spots seemed to come first on the 

 body. They were light-coloured spots. They turn rather darker before the 

 fish dies. 



A " gay few " fish got up to the Nest fishery. Not more than usual. The 

 water was not overstocked. 



The water is pretty pure there ; but a good bit of pollution comes down 

 quite black. 



Never saw trout and grayling diseased till this year ; never heard of it. It is 



The kelts should be taken out and buried. The dead fish pollute the 

 water. 



The cauld at Walkerburn does not keep the fish back in high water. The fish 

 are stopped in the lade. The pollution is bad for the fish. When the water is 

 small the dirt is all over the bottom of the water. It is worse now than 30 

 years ago. 



Plenty of fish collect below Walkerburn dam at the back end of the year. 



G. L. Paulin. — Omitted to say yesterday that on 26th August a grilse of 

 2 lbs. was taken in the Tweed just above the mouth of the Whitadder, with 

 fungus on the side. It was not in such good condition as grilse are usually. 

 It seemed to have been in the river some time. Sea lice were upon it. The 

 river there is quite salt. Thinks the fish had contracted the disease in the river. 



William Menzies, Secretary to the Nest Angling Club, Galashiels. — 

 Has known the Tweed for many years. 



[Produces a report on the pollution of the Tweed dated 1878.] 



The report was made for the Angling Club by Dr. Stevenson Macadam and 

 printed privately. It shows that the Tweed water is much polluted by various 

 mills. Thinks the matter bears on the condition of the fish in the Tweed. 

 The pollutions are worse than formerly. 



Has never seen clean salmon diseased. All that he saw were kelts or un- 

 spawned kippers. It seems the same to the eye as the old kelt disease. There 

 is fungus along the side of the fins and tail. Has seen no sore, but only 

 fungus. Thinks the fungus is the disease. Has seen diseased fish for 25 years 

 among kelts and kippers. 



Refers to Walkerburn and the Innerleithen pollutions. The pollutions in 

 the upper waters are increasing. 



There was no increase in the number of fish last spring. The dirty water 

 from the wool is put into the water. 



Joseph Napier, Superintendent to the Forth District Fishery Board, 

 Stirling. Has given much attention to the disease. 



[Hands in a statement on the subject. It is as follows : — ] 



" I have been upwards of 13 years superintendent of the salmon fisheries in 

 " the Forth district, and previous to that I was inspector for nearly five years 

 " in the Tay district. During this time while engaged on duty I was in a 

 " position to observe salmon both in their foul and clean condition. I have 



