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EDINBURGH. Thinks that in several rivers the net fishing should be continued for at least 



14 days longer. Seventeen years' trial is enough to prove that the early closing 



of the net fishing has been a grievous mistake in many cases. 

 Has fished in Ireland as well as in Scotland. 



The fish diseased referred to were all kelts. They had white spots without 

 any fungus. They were generally males. They were seen above Stirling, 

 above the Cruive *Dyke. Saw no clean fish affected. The fish were very 

 sickly, and came into" the shallow water. 



Joseph Cowen, practical angler, Edinburgh. — Has taken great interest in 

 pisciculture. 



Thinks the disease, which is now most common amongst male kelts, is owing 

 to the rivers being overstocked with these fish, especially during the spring 

 months after spawning, when they are in an exhausted state, through an in- 

 sufficient supply of food, or wounds by fighting, and through the breaking 

 up of the ice after a severe winter. The fish become chipped and scabbed, and 

 remain confined in a limited space of water till a flood carries them to the sea. 



As a field can only support a certain amount of sheep, so can a river only 

 support a certain amount of salmon. Salmon will get diseased, like human 

 beings, if there is an insufficient supply of pure water and food, &c. 



The drainage of land has caused the rivers to be either in a high state of 

 flood, or in a very low state, which is favourable to the spread of fungus 

 disease. Previous to the drainage of land the rivers continued to run mode- 

 rately full for some days after rain, producing a more regular supply of fresh 

 water and food. 



Caulds were also fewer formerly. Suggests that the water-bailiffs should 

 hook out and bury dead and diseased salmon, instead of looking out for some 

 unfortunate angler who may happen to hook a kelt. 



Fair anglers should be encouraged instead of being compelled to return 

 kelts to the water. Kelts which have been hooked and run seldom or never 

 live. Kelts should be taken, but with the fly only. 



Anglers would help to keep down poachers. 



Kelts may return to the river next year very much larger, but the flesh of an 

 overgrown salmon is coarse. 



Kelts also eat parr. 



Pollution may be a cause of the disease. Has a friend in California who 

 saw an enormous quantity of kelts dying in the rivers there. They die after 

 spawning. 



Anglers, if encouraged, would become watchers. Kelts should be taken if 

 hooked. Anglers have killed kelts rather than let them be taken by others. 

 Anglers will not take an interest against poachers under the present law. 



Has seen diseased salmon. Finds that diseased trout, if put into fresh water, 

 will get well. The fungus follows on some other disease. 



Pollution and dead kelts should be removed. 



Has hooked kelts, and found eight or nine parr partly digested inside them. 

 They will take a parr in the spring rather than a fly. 



There are five angling clubs in Edinburgh, and about 1,000 anglers. 

 Anglers wish to kill kelts. 



Thinks it is illegal to have dead fish in possession. 



Thinks rivers rising in a loch are not so liable to disease as others without a 

 supply of water from a loch. Fish run all the year round in the Tay. 



Has fished the Eden, but does not know much about it. 



