95 



Thomas Kidd, gamekeeper and water bailiff. — Has known the Lune for 31 LANCASTEB. 



years. The fishing has greatly improved. The weirs existed when he first 



knew the river. The fish were not there then. They have increased since 1861. 

 Never observed the disease till four years ago. Got a diseased fish in the 

 summer four years ago. The fish was a little gone about the head. It was 

 found opposite Tunstal. It was a clean fish. 



Most of the diseased fish were kelts. The disease is increasing. It has 

 been worse than ever this year. 



Has cut up some fish. The skin-disease appears to get stronger, and the 

 white fungus appeared this season for the first time. Four years ago the spots 

 were grey, and not so white. There is fungus now. Thinks it has been 

 increasing by degrees. Ten years ago many male fish died from fighting. 

 Thinks it has gone on increasing till it became more noticeable. 



It is due to the fish being kept in the tideway. If there is any sewage 

 there, this would cause the disease. They stay too long there. Knows of 

 nothing higher up to cause it. 



The fish are increasing, and in good seasons there are plenty of fish, but in 

 dry seasons few. Has plenty of fishing on the whole. 



Represents the river from Tunstal below the Castle to above Hornby. This 

 season there has been as much disease there as elsewhere. Many males may 

 always be seen in the pools, but this season he has hardly seen an undiseased 

 fish. The disease kills the fish ; as they get lower down they die. 



The water bailiffs have buried the majority. Has opened some fish, and 

 found a more yellow colour in the flesh than there ought to be. 



The fungus is the disease. Has tried to scrape off the fungus, and found its 

 roots growing deeper and deeper into the flesh. The head is more deeply eaten 

 into than any other part. 



Last season there were more fish than usual in the river. The fish are on 

 the increase in the river. The weirs are improved. The season but one before 

 this was as good as this. In 1877 the disease was not so bad. In 18/8 the 

 fish were purer, and the fungus was not so white. The male fish have been 

 more covered this year than before. 



Thomas Gorse, gamekeeper, Hornby. — The water at Hornby is good. The 

 fish have decreased. Last season was very bad. The fish could not get up for want 

 of water. On an average the fishing is going back. After the nets are off the 

 fish come up abundantly, and there are too many fish in the water then. They 

 go far above Hornby. The rod fishing is improving. Saw the disease about 

 five years ago. It was similar to the present disease, but the scab was not so 

 white. The fish are whiter and more covered with fungus now. Thinks it is 

 the same disease, but cannot say why it is whiter. The disease has been getting 

 worse. Has found a good many fish dead in consequence. Has opened fish, 

 and they seemed some of them to be rather discoloured. 



Attributes it to the fish being blocked below. The fish are too long below 

 Skerton and Halton. Would like to sea Halton Weir pulled down. Both 

 weirs should be removed. 



The disease is increasing. Yesterday a friend of his found several fresh- 

 water trout in the Greta diseased. Mr. Foster agrees with him as to the fish 

 being blocked below. 



Richard Clemenson, rod fisherman. — Has known the river for 15 or 20 

 years. Fishes the upper part from Halton to Tunstal, a distance of 15 miles. 

 The rod fishing has very much improved. When he first began he could not 

 get a fish at the back end of the year. No fish get up till the nets are off. 



Has seen the disease for many years. Particularly noticed a fungus first 

 among minnows. They had like a moss growing on them ; it was darker in 

 colour than the growth on the salmon. It seemed to grow out of them. They 

 died by suffocation. 



First saw disease in salmon eight or nine years ago, but not so bad as now. 

 The salmon have a lighter coloured fungus on the gills, fins, and tail, and all 

 over the head. There was a fungoid growth on salmon and trout in Halton 

 water. Has also seen it on eels. 



Has only seen one clean salmon diseased. Mr. Sharp landed one in 

 September last, and it had two spots on the cheek and back just commencing. 

 The fly is principally used here. Only knows of this one case of a diseased 

 fish taking the fly. 



