260 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes di^iisecl. built, or in prosi^ect. None. 



'1. Are the bye-laws observed ui every case ? Fairly ^veIl observed. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — None. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Town and bleachfields of Brechin. 



2. Remedial measures : — Five settling tanks erected and used during the 



past year, but very little improvement effected. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of November, and 



reached its height in January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in July. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was as 



foUows : — 



Males. Females. 



Kelts, . . . . .319 638 



Clean, ....... 17 



The Spawning Season — 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 2oth October. 



2. The greatest number spawned, during the last week of December. 



3. Spawning ceased about the middle of January. 



4. As regards numbers of breedmg fish, and state of the water, the past spawn- 



ing season is regarded as one of the best for a number of years. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April and May. 



2. As a smolt year 1913 was an average season. 



REPORT XORTH ESK DLSTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse taken by rod and line in September and 



October 1913 was 138 salmon and 19 grilse — 157 in all. 



2. The catch in relation to that of former years was about average. 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was by net. 



48 lb., and by rod and line. 40 lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — By net m. August 1913. 

 at Rockhall, and by rod and line in October 1913, on Morphie Water. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1913 was £7597 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was 5 per cent. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 12 in number, including superintendent. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — One 



prosecution of tacksmen of sea fishings, for alleged breach of part of 

 weekly close time. Finding of Court " Not guilty."' 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. No dam dykes disused, buUt. or in prospect. 



2. Bye-laws observed in every case. 



3. No fish passes built or in prospect. 



Pollutions— 



1. The principal existing source of pollution is the eflfluent from Northesk 



Distillery (when working), about a mile from the mouth of the river. 



2. Remedial measures : — Filtering tanks. 



