POLLUTION OF THE XORTII ESK. 187 



was not the only cause of the evil now complained of. There 

 were coal-wastes along the stream, the refuse from which he be- 

 lieved to be most destructive to animal life. Gas-tar was also 

 another pernicious ingredient that found its way into the 

 stream. In addition to that, they had found a practice prevailing 

 of stealing chloride of lime from their works for the purpose of 

 destroying fish — a practice which it was by no means easy to 

 ensure them against. He did not deny that there was ground 

 of complaint, but he was afraid that much of it was inseparable 

 from the growth of manufactures and the extent to which they 

 were carried on. He believed, however, that the construction 

 of reservoirs for storing water for the summer season would tend 

 in a considerable degree to meet the evil. 



" Mr. Scott MoncriefF said that ever since he knew the river 

 it had been the receptacle of the sewage of the little towns on 

 its bank ; but it was only of late that poisonous ingredients had 

 flowed into it from the paper factories. There used to be abun- 

 dance of trout in both rivers ; now there were none. There was 

 a great change for the worse, which he could not attribute to 

 anything but the extension of the paper works, and he could 

 not but think that through the exertions of the proprietors of 

 these mills the nuisance might be diminished. 



" Sir W. Gibson-Craig thought the question was not purely a 

 local one, because it referred to all the rivers in the county, in- 

 cluding the Water of Leith. He thought it a matter of public 

 interest, and one which, as a County, they ought to take up. 



" The Duke of Buccleuch said he also looked on this not as 

 a local, and still less as a personal question. It was a matter 

 of serious inconvenience to a large body of the people that the 

 water should have become so unfit for use ; it was a matter that 

 affected their personal health and comfort. 



" On the motion of Sir W. Johnston, the subject was remitted 

 to the General Committee." 



This is a miserable condition for a classic stream like 

 the Esk to be reduced to; and these facts are sufficient 

 of themselves to suggest the necessity for the autho- 

 rities to use every vigilance and precaution to prevent 



