of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



263 



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

 spawning season is regarded as about an average. The low state of 

 the river was, at the time, rather against a good spawning season, as some 

 fish were unable to reach the best spawning streams. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the end of March. 



2. As a smolt year 1913 was about an average — perhaps rather under. 



REPORT FROM DON DISTRICT, ABERDEENSHIRE. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse : — 



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

 (6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — Slightly above average, 

 (c) By rod and line — Rather below the average. It is impossible to 

 give the numbers of fish caught by each of the above methods. 



2. Sea trout : — 



{a) The number taken was — Impossible to state number. 



(h) As compared with previous years — Rather under the average. 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 40 lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — By sweep net at Cruives 



of Don in August. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1913 was £3593. 



2. The assessment levied was at 19 per cent, thereon = £682 13s. 8d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 15 in number. 



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



12 prosecutions for breaches of the Salmon Fisheries Act, implicating 18 

 men, as under. Seven cases implicating 10 men for taking or being 

 in possession of unclean salmon. One case implicating 1 man for using 

 an mstrument dragging for salmon. Two cases implicating 2 men for 

 being on the banks of the river in possession of a gaff. One case implicat- 

 ing 2 men for taking fish of the salmon kind by means of baited hooks 

 and lines. One case implicating 3 men for having salmon in their 

 possession during annual close time. 

 Two of the above cases were settled out of Court. In the other cases all 

 were convicted, the fines ranging from the amount of the expenses to 

 £5 and expenses, with the alternatives of 7 to 60 days imprisonment. 

 Two paid fines, 8 went to prison, and 6 convictions have not yet been 

 put in force. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — No changes during 1913, 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — No cause of complaint. 



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



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — To a greater or less degree from paper and 



tweed mills on the lower river, and also to some extent from towns 

 bordering on the river. 



2. Remedial measures : — Are being considered with a view to reducing the 



pollution from mills, &c., to the smallest amount possible. 



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 end of May practically. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts . . . . .310 120 



Clean , . . . ... 



