SAFROLEONIA FESAX. 253 



was reported by the press^ and the Board stated " that 

 '' the salmon disease had of late much increased, but 

 " spring fish had not been affected to any great extent, 

 " a large number of the early -run fish having dropped 

 " back to the sea/^ 



Probably many fish in the lowest waters had dropped 

 back to the sea, but, at the time this report was read, in 

 the middle waters as many as 20 diseased spring-fish 

 could be seen in one pool alone, and in about 4 miles 

 of water it is no exaggeration to say that hundreds were 

 observed lying together, in batches of 7 to 10, in slack 

 water by the banks. As they became blind by the 

 fungus the majority fell an easy prey to poachers, who 

 reaped a rare harvest. 



A member of the Board realized the necessity of 

 grappling with the disease, and suggested " that the 

 " committee should give their serious attention to the 

 " desirability of stamping out the salmon disease." 



This suggestion, however, was derided by another 

 member, who countered with the remark, ''that they 

 " should appoint a committee to send a flood down; " 

 and with this inanely frivolous speech "the subject 

 dropped." Apart from the levity of the remark, the 

 latter speaker demonstrated his ignorance of the subject 

 under consideration, being apparently unaware that the 

 remedy he facetiously alluded to had been applied, 

 without success, by nature throughout the last five-and- 

 twenty years. 



Under the present conditions of infected rivers a 



