262 



Appendices to Thirty-second Annual Report 



3. Spawning ceased about 18th January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as having been very good, the river having 

 been in flood from October during the whole of the spawning season, 

 and big salmon were plentiful. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the months of April, 



May, and June. 



2. As a smolt year 1913 was very good. 



REPORT FROM RIVER DEE DISTRICT, ABERDEENSHIRE. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse : — Impossible to give numbers. 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — Below the average. 

 (6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — About an average, 

 (c) By rod and line — In the spring rather abo\e average, but in 

 autumn rather below — on the whole about an average. 



2. Sea Trout:— 



(a) The number taken was — Impossible to give number. 



(b) As compared with previous years considered to be rather below 



the average. 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 42 lb. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — In August, at the 

 Harbour Commissioners Coast Fishings, near to the estuary, by fixed 

 engine. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1913 was £18,153. 



2. The assessment levied was at 5| per cent, thereon = £998 8s. 4d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 25 in number. 



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



one prosecution implicating 1 man. It was for taking an unseasonable 

 salmon. He was convicted and fined 2s. 6d. with £1 lis. 6d. of ex- 

 penses, and failing payment, 7 days imprisonment. He went to prison. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — No dam dykes in the river. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — 'No cause to complain. 



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



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — From paper mills at Culter, about 8 miles 



above river's mouth, but not of a very serious nature in 1913, 



2. Remedial measures : — The extent of the pollution has not called for any 



special action in 1913. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in end of December. 

 The river was free of diseased fish practically early in June. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts . . . . .450 190 



Clean . . . . ... 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 6th November. 



2. The greatest number spawned m December. 



3. Spawning ceased practically about the end of January, 



