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tions to the rivers. Thinks that town-sewage is highly noxious to fish life. EDINBURGH. 



The evil results of this pollution have not shown themselves sooner, because, 



formerly, the rivers did not rise and fall so rapidly as at present, and there 

 was a greater volume of water to dilute the pollution. Now, there is a noxious 

 sediment on the stones and on the bottom of the Tweed, which, when the fish 

 get sores from fighting or rubbing themselves, irritates and poisons them and 

 produces the disease. Has examined the sore, miscroscopically, and is of 

 opinion that it is of a diphtheric character arising from blood-poisoning, which 

 he believes to be caused by the pollution of the river. 



Has examined some cases of salmon disease, and, in all of these, has found 

 the liver to be a mass of fatty degeneration. 



Thinks town sewage more injurious to fish life than manufacturing refuse. 

 Thinks the fungus is not the disease, but a fungoid growth following on the 

 sore arising from blood-poisoning. Has no doubt that the disease is a river 

 disease. 



The caulds on the Tweed are objectionable. When the water is low the kelts 

 are crowded above them, and cannot get down. They have insufficient water 

 and insufficient food, and this may have something to do with the disease. 

 In such cases would net above all the dams and put the fish over the caulds so 

 as to let them get to the sea. 



Thinks kelts are too much preserved; they destroy salmon fry. They 

 should be killed after the 1st of April. 



Thinks the disease an old disease which has recently broken out with ex- 

 ceptional violence, owing to the presence of certain conditions, with which we 

 are as yet but imperfectly acquainted. It may be contagious, but is rather 

 inclined to think it is not. 



Thinks it would be desirable to have a careful analysis of the water of the 

 Tweed taken from several points ; first, below Coldstream, where it is com- 

 paratively pure ; 2nd, at junction of Tweed and Teviot, near Kelso, where 

 there is considerable pollution ; 3rd, at junction of Gala and Tweed ; 4th, 

 at junction of Leithen and Tweed, where there is also great pollution ; and, 

 lastly, about Neidpath, above Peebles, where the water is comparatively pure. 

 Is in favour of removing all dead and badly diseased fish from the river, and 

 burying them ; and if possible would remove the less diseased fish to the salt 

 water, where they might be saved. 



Does not think that overstocking is the cause of the disease. Thinks it 

 might tend to counteract the ravages of the salmon disease if a river were arti- 

 ficially stocked with healthy fry. Disease in a pure river may possibly arise 

 from fish contracting the disease in a polluted river, going down to the sea, 

 and ascending the pure river. For example, diseased fish from the Doon might 

 contract the disease, and then ascend to the Stinchar and spread the disease 

 there. Does not think the disease could arise in a perfectly pure stream. 



Thinks that the present virulent aspect which the disease has assumed in the 

 Tweed has arisen from the effect of the poisonous sediment caused by the mani- 

 fold pollutions of the river acting on sores which the fish have contracted 

 through fighting or rubbing themselves. 



Would suggest that there should be a close season for river trout from 1st 

 October to 1st April, and, in order to prevent poaching, every fisher should 

 have a license, the cost of which should not be less than 2s. 6(/. 



