418 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



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). One cannot, therefore, be very readily convinced 

 that spring fish are not to be found in the Annan, although their 

 numbers may be small. 



Several weirs exist on the river, but thanks to the super- 

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

 obstructions 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 three 

 miles up-stream. Here a subsidiary dyke has been built, so that a 

 pool about half the breadth of the river is formed half-way up the 

 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 seven 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. 



