SAPBOLEQNIA lEBAX. 249 



such as that which occurred in the autumn of 1891 

 in the Solway rivers, is invariably followed by a cor- 

 responding increase of disease. 



This fairly represents the present state of affairs, and 

 holds good to a minor extent as regards many other 

 rivers; in fact each successive season brings recruits 

 to the already long list of polluted waters. 



When food material, such as beast or bird, is threat- 

 ened by disease, authorities or breeders at once take 

 steps to eradicate it, but in the case of fish it appears 

 to be no one^s business or concern. 



The proprietors of net-fishings in the lower and 

 middle waters see no cause for exertion, as by the assist- 

 ance of disease every fish in the pool can be counted 

 as gain, for while cowering by the banks half a dozen 

 can be secured in open daylight at one haul of the net, 

 which, after being wiped over with a cloth, command 

 as high a price as healthy fish, unless the head be 

 scarred, when a shilling or so per fish is knocked off for 

 the benefit of the retailer alone, as, in nine cases out of 

 ten, the consumer does not see the head, and would not 

 put the correct construction upon it if he did. 



In consideration of the conditions which have so 

 favoured the increase and spread of the disease, it is 

 remarkable that it almost entirely exists in rivers 

 whose watersheds include large districts devoted to 

 agriculture, and it must be noted in what respect these 

 differ at the present day as compared with 30 or 30 

 years ago. 



