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James Milligan.— "Was formerly water-bailiff on the Girvan. First GIRVAN. 

 heard of disease on 1st February 1880, through the papers. Afterwards saw 

 fish in the river. They were covered with white spots the size of half-a-crown. 

 The fungus was above the scales. The fish were kelts. They had a beak on 

 the jaw. They were all kelts. Saw dead salmon 30 years ago scarred from 

 fighting, but the appearance on the kelts this year was quite new. It is a 

 freshwater disease. 



The river is the same as it was 30 years ago. Can assign no cause. The 

 dams are not sufficiently opened up. There are seven of them. The second 

 mill dam (Baron's Mill) is the worst, and prevents the fish getting up. It 

 is a wooden dam, and the water filters through. The stock of fish would 

 improve if the dams were opened up. There is much valuable spawning 

 ground. 



Thinks the river is not overstocked. Observed more salmon this year below 

 Bridge Mill than ever he saw before. The fish weri weak and could not ascend. 



Heard W. Dickie's evidence. There is always a kind of green slime in the 

 water. 



The fish he saw were affected about the gills. 



Tkos. Gaunt. — Gamekeeper to Lord Stair. Lives at Bargany, three miles 

 up the river. There are not many fish there. The fish run up in June and 

 July, and spawn in his water. There were fewer than usual last year. 



Has seen diseased fish. Saw six this season, both clean fish and foul fish. 

 Means fish about to spawn or spawned. The clean fish he got was about to 

 spawn. Has known the water for 16 years. In July 1878 saw an ulcer on 

 a salmon, on the back of the neck. Afterwards saw nothing till December 

 1879. The fish were in the water from December to middle of February. Saw 

 six diseased fish. The fish were given to the dogs. Opened them and found 

 nothing peculiar inside. The liver was darkish in colour. One fish was 20 lbs. 

 in weight. It was a she fish with the roe well developed. The fish were 

 diseased on the back of the head, on the dorsal fin, and on the belly. 



The first fish he got was a he fish marked on the forehead. 



Has no idea of the cause. 



There are not enough fish in the river. Another month's fishing would 

 extirpate the fish. 



The fish were more plentiful formerly than they are now. Lord Stair does 

 not draw his own pools ; and since then the fish have decreased. There is 

 no fishing in the reservoir. 



Alexander Maclellan, gamekeeper. — Has known the river eight years 

 and a half; knows it all. First heard of the disease in February 1880. Has 

 seen scars on fish from fighting. Saw fish spotted four years ago at Kirk- 

 michael. It is not a new disease. Saw a fish covered with ulcers ; it appeared 

 to be slimy. Found three little threads, which went into the flesh. The 

 intestines were quite healthy. There were three threads 1| inch deep in the 

 flesh. Has no idea of the cause. 



The Girvan is not overstocked. Has fished for six years, and kills from 1.0 

 to 15 fish every year in about three miles of water. Has killed some fish at 

 Kilkerran, but most at Cloncaird. Thinks three weeks longer for rods should 

 be given. The fish would, some of them, be quite good. Does not take full 

 fish. Killed one fish last year in June, 18 lbs. in weight. 



Has seen fish spotted before. 



Has seen fish jumping at Blairquhan, and very few got up. It is good 

 spawning ground above there. The Linn could easily be blasted. The fish 

 fall back on the stones and are wounded. The fishing would be improved if 

 the dams were made passable. 



J. McTear, watcher to Mr. Kennedy. — Has known the river for two years. 

 Knows no other river. Has seen two or three diseased fish. Saw these fish in 

 February last. Reported the fact to Mr. Kennedy. The fish were all diseased 

 kelts. Thinks they died of the fungus. 



There are a " good few " fish in his water. In half a mile of water saw 

 one dozen fish lying. Cannot say if it was overcrowded. 



H. Thompson. — Has been gamekeeper for three years to Lord Ailsa, on 

 the Upper Stinchar. Has known the river many years. It was a very good 

 river formerly, but not so good lately. There has been a great decrease since 

 he knew it. There is not one fish for 20 formerly. 



