The Salmon '-3 



to have time to look at the angler's lures. Besides, it is repeatedly 

 jumping out of the water at various angles, and while under water is 

 almost constantly rubbing itself against the bottom or on rocks or 

 stones, often turning on its back and sides in its endeavour to be rid 

 of the fungus. Loch Tay has iallen off greatly since the disease 

 commenced, and the wonder is that the supply has kept up so well 

 during the last twenty years. Much has been said and written about 

 preventing the disease, but little or nothing has been done towards 

 stamping it out. Of course, although a cure for it were discovered, it 

 would be most difficult to apply. 



I am of opinion that if all proprietors on affected rivers were 

 to clear away all obstacles and allow the fish to have a clear run, 

 they would distribute themselves over the whole river course, instead 

 of as at present being huddled together under weirs and falls and 

 in polluted parts of the river. Many of the fish would thus be out of 

 reach of the disease. Every fish that became affected in the higher 

 reaches during spring and summer should be destroyed to prevent 

 the rivers from becoming polluted for the autumn run, which is by 

 far the largest. If the disease continued it would be advisable to erect 

 a barrier across the river and catch every fish that came up in spring 

 and summer, and keep them in ponds and spawn them. Any that 

 showed signs of disease could thus easily be treated. I should also 

 recommend that all dead and dying fish be removed from the 

 river. Until now this has only been done in a half-hearted way. Not 

 only salmon but sea-trout, trout, grayling, and even sparling are 

 subject to the disease. Those who wish to study the salmon 

 disease should read The Cause of the Salmon Disease, by J. Hume 

 Patterson, Glasgow. On page 12 he sums up as follows: — " ist. 

 The Fungus Saprolegnia ferax is not the cause of the salmon disease. 

 2nd, The disease is due to the invasion of the tissues of the fish by a 

 special bacillus (^Bacillus saliuonis pestis). 3rd, The bacillus gains 

 access through abrasion or ulceration of the skin, and the disease is 

 apparently not contracted when the skin of the fish is in a healthy 

 state. 4th, Bacillus saliuonis pestis can be transmitted from dead 



