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LANCASTER. In 1878 the salmon came down to Forge Weir on the 24th April and left 

 — on the 15th May. 



In 1879 Forge Weir was washed down. 



In 1880 salmon and smolts came down on the 19th April. 



Thinks they keep so late because of the weirs. 



Proper passes should be made in the weirs. 



The fish rise in the water as if in pain. Takes out and buries the dead 

 fish. 



Has taken 255 females and 114 males during the spawning season of 

 1879-80 at Barbon and Halton. The she fish did not commence to die in any 

 numbers till after spawning, but has caught full fish dead and dying. 



The late fish cannot get over the weirs. They spawn below the first and 

 second weirs. The river is full of spawning ground. 



In his length of river from Kirkby Lonsdale Bridge to Wrathay Foot the 

 quantity of spawning fish was not as large as in former years. A number of 

 late fish do not get over Halton Weir, and some seasons they turn over the 

 spawning beds below the weir three or four times. Never saw so few spawning 

 fish during the time he has been on the river as in 1878-9. Came to Halton 

 on the 21st January 1879. A large quantity of fish were in Halton water. 

 Many died, and very few went over Skerton Weir before the 25th May. 



Has seen large quantities of fish above Forge Weir, but never any over- 

 crowding in the higher parts of the river. 



William Seed, water bailiff. — Has known the Lune for 20 years. His 

 district extends up to Kirkby Stephen, and a few miles below Hornby. 



Has seen more diseased fish this year than ever. Twenty years ago there 

 were no fish at all. They began to come in 1860. The Act of 1861 greatly 

 increased the supply of fish. 



Has seen fish with spots for several years. First saw the spots 10 years ago 

 on spawned cock fish. Lately the spotted fish have increased gradually. 



They are a deal lighter coloured than they were. The old spots looked like 

 bites, and they had no fungus. They were like sores. First saw the fungus 

 on old fish nine years ago. It has got worse every year. It is worse this year 

 than ever. A few fish came in February without spots, but nearly every fish 

 had spots and fungus. Afterwards in his water there were in one stream 100 

 pairs, and nearly all alike. They were very badly covered with the fungus. 

 The female fish did not all die ; all the male fish died. 



Buried about 167 males and 70 females. This was between Tunstal and 

 Hornby. There are not many diseased fish there now. They have come 

 down the river. " > 



Saw a good many smolts diseased when the ice was on the river. They 

 were white just the same as the salmon. Picked some up dead. Also saw 

 some common trout dead. The disease is getting worse. There were 10 

 diseased fish in the river this year.f or one last year. As many died last year in 

 proportion as this year. There was no overcrowding last year, and the disease 

 was just as bad as it is now. 



Has seen more salmon, but never as many spawning at one time on the 

 higher part of his length of river as there were this season. The first were 

 well paired and not overstocked with males ; but nearly all were spotted with 

 the disease. There was no overcrowding except at Cunnygarth near Tunstal, 

 where the beds were well turned over after the first ice broke up. There was 

 not the usual quantity of spawning fish below Gressingham Bridge. In 

 1878-9 there was a scarcity of spawning fish. Saw no diseased fish before the 

 20th November. Never saw so few salmon up the river during the netting 

 season as last year. 



Knows of no pollution in the river. 



Has opened diseased fish. Took a diseased fish in the beginning of December 

 which had half spawned, and died. The spawn in it was like roasted bacon, 

 and not a good colour. It was a nasty yellow colour. The liver looked all 

 right. The fish was all blown up, and the spawn was bloody. 



The fish were kept off the beds by the frost, and all came up at once. Last 

 year there was a nice size of water for spawning. 



The weirs bother the fish. They cannot get over them. It is possible this 

 may have something to do with the disease. The fish should be let up more 

 freely. 



