IO 
they retain the ova and milt, causing great risk a fatal 
inflammation; and accordingly every winter, multitudes 
of fish, both male and female, are found dead and un- 
spawned —in many cases with milt-sacs and ovaries 
diseased.* 
I believe that the state into which our rivers get by 
excessive drought, is another cause of much unhealthiness 
to salmon. The rain falling on our agricultural districts 
rushes off at once through land drains ; so that our rivers, 
instead of continuing in flood for a week or ten days, fall 
to their ordinary level in three or four days; and in dry 
weather, the fish congregate in pools, where the quantity of 
water is so small, that the supply of oxygen for respiration 
is insufficient. 
A curious fact may be referred to, which perplexed 
the late Frank Buckland, viz., the entry of grilse into our 
rivers, at a season when it is probable they do not come 
for spawning. In the north of Scotland, they enter the 
rivers on the east coast, in January and February, but on 
* Return by Mr. List, Superintendent of Tweed Water Bailiffs, of 
salmon, grilse, and bull-trout, found dead or dying in the river, 
which were taken out of the river and buried, distinguishing the 
spawned and the unspawned. 



Season Season Season Season 
1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 
Spawned. oy". 4694 2542 11438 | 3996 
Unspawned . . . 528 365 3189 864 



The late Frank Buckland, in his 19th Report, p. 34, says :—“A 
question of considerable importance, bearing on the salmon disease, 
has arisen, viz., whether a female salmon has the power to withhold 
her eggs? Now, I know most positively that she has the power.” 
