of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



261 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of December 1912, 



and reached its height in January 1913. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in April and May 1913. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts .... 129 18 

 Clean .... 9 42 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 19th November 1912. 



2. The greatest number spawned during December 1912. 



3. Spawning ceased in February 1913. 



4. As regards numbers of breeding fish, and state of the water, the past 



spawning season is regarded as fairly good. 



Smolts— 



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



1913. 



2. As a smolt year 1913 was good. 



REPORT FROM BERVIE DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The catch in relation to that of former years was : — 



(a) By fixed engine — Salmon above average ; grilse and trout 

 average. 



(&) By sweep net — Below average, 

 (c) By rod and line — x4bove average. 



2. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 47 lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — 16tb August, in a bag 



net at Gourdon. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1913 was £1095 13s. 



2. The assessment levied was 12|- per cent. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 4 in number. 



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



men warned for being in possession of smolt. Four men reported 

 for being in possession of salmon parr. Three of them paid fines 

 to the Board, and one was prosecuted and fined by the Sheriff £1, 

 with £1 Os. 6d. of expenses. Three lads prosecuted for taking a salmon 

 with a gaff, two bemg convicted and fined £1 each. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused. 



One at Upper Mill of AUardyce, and one at Mill of Arbuthnott ; neither 

 of them an obstruction. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in February. 



The river was free of diseased fish in April. 



2, The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was 50, 



all kelts. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 3rd November 1912. 



2. The greatest number spawned in November and December 1912. 



