156 



they retain the ova and milt, causing great risk of fate* 

 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 riven 

 which were taken out of the river and buried, distinguishing the 

 spawned and the unspawned. 



The late Frank Buckland, in his igth 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." 



