434 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



the salmon, here named the spring salmon, weighing from five 

 to eight pounds, and in which there is found neither milt or 

 roe, enters the river in the beginning of January, and there 

 remains only a short time. It is remarkably rich, and is sold at 

 from 2s. to 3s. per Ib." Now a kelt, no matter how fine in 

 appearance, cannot possibly be described as remarkably rich, 

 and could not possibly be sold for anything like 2s. per Ib. 

 Further, reports from the Annan District Board, published 

 annually in Part II. of the Reports of the Fishery Board for 

 Scotland, repeatedly refer to clean spring fish taken on or about 

 the opening day of the season (25th February). I venture to 

 affirm that the spring fish have disappeared simply by the 

 action of man. 



Several weirs exist on the river, but thanks to the supervision 

 of the District Board, fish-passes are provided and the obstruc- 

 tions rendered as harmless as can readily be done. I have 

 already referred to the weir at Annan. The rise of the tide 

 renders it easily passable. The next weir is Brydekirk Cauld, 

 about 3 miles upstream. Here a subsidiary dyke has been 

 built, so that a pool about half the breadth of the river is formed 

 half-way up the original dyke, and from this pool a simple gap 

 and pass is cut through the sill of the weir. It is a good form 

 of pass for a low obstruction of this kind. 



A dam dyke at Murraythwaite, about 7 miles above Annan, 

 is not a serious obstruction when the river is in running order. 

 A pass is also present. At Dormont there is a more difficult 

 obstacle, a natural reef of rocks having been built upon to form 

 a dyke. A fish-pass has been constructed, but the barrier is 

 naturally greater than the other, and has also a further effect 

 in damming up water for a very considerable distance up- 

 stream, so that during floods the river here not infrequently 

 overflows its banks. 



Two of the tributaries are also obstructed by weirs, viz., the 

 Mein and the Milk. On the latter there are two dykes, the 

 upper of which is rather a horrible affair, and the worst structure 

 of its kind in the Annan district. 



I may add that the little river Kirtle, although it has a 

 separate course to the sea, is treated as in the Annan District. 



With the mention of a stream so near Gretna and the Border, 

 I am come to the end of my story. 



