MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES AND OBSERVATIONS. 409 



did in 1865. It is probable that the increase on the whole 

 would be in like proportion; and I infer therefore, that (the 

 total of 1865 being six thousand eight hundred and three fish) 

 the total amount of salmon, grilse, and salmon-trout taken in 

 1866 would be very nearly eight thousand six hundred. — G. C. 

 Atkinson. 



''Police Office, Alnwick, 



" 27th February, 1867. 



"Sib, 



"According to your request on the 23rd instant, relative to taking- 

 salmon in North Tyne and Reed, for artificial propagation in the rivers Coquet 

 and Am, I beg to inform you that my first journey for ova took place on the 

 29th November last. I commenced to fish the Reed at Woodburn Village, 

 got a number of fish, but very little ova ; most of the fish at that time were 

 kelted. On the 30th I commenced at Tarset and fisTied to Reedsmouth ; I 

 found that most of the fish in the Tyne were also kelted. Took altogether 

 in the Tyne and Reed, for two days' fishing, one hundred and twenty-nine 

 salmon and one hundred and three grilse ; several of the salmon up to 20 

 pounds weight, four 30 pounds, and one 40 pounds or upwards. Most 

 of the fish taken in November were small. To have continued to fish at 

 that time would have been a waste of time and money, as I could see no 

 chance of getting anything like a sufficient quantity of ova, therefore I sus- 

 pended operations, and waited for a fresh run of fish by the next flood. 

 On the 12th December I went again to the Tyne and found the river very much 

 flooded, it having been heavy rain during the night. Went to the Reed, 

 fished five streams between Woodburn and Reedsmouth, got several very 

 fine salmon ; twenty-two at one haul, twelve of that number 20 pounds each ; 

 but only one small one ripe for our purpose ; took altogether on the 12th 

 thirty-seven salmon and sixteen grilse. On the 13th fished from Falstone 

 to Kielder, river very heavy, fish chiefly small, none over 14 pounds : took 

 on the 13th nineteen salmon and forty-one grilse. On the 14th, river still 

 very heavy ; took forty- two salmon and twenty- one grilse between Falstone 

 and Bellingham ; eleven fish 30 pounds, fourteen 20 pounds : for three days' 

 fishing only got eight thousand ova. On the morning of the 15th, fished 

 Bridgeford stream below Bellingham, got fourteen salmon all above 20 

 pounds, two upwards of 40 pounds. 



"Fished the Reed, near the Railway Bridge, got forty-three fish, (seven- 

 teen salmon, twenty-six grilse,) at one haul; seven about 30 pounds, and 

 three 40 pounds. 



"Went to Long Waters Stream, below Woodburn Village; got fifty- 

 seven fish (forty-five salmon, twelve grilse,) at one haul, and three times 



d 2 



