of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



283 



REPORT FROM AYR DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse : — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — ^None. 



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — None. 



(c) By rod and line — 101. 



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



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 26| lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — August 1913, in Ayr 



Town Council Water. 

 The first salmon seen running was on 26th April. 



The biggest runs of salmon were in May and the last week of November. 

 The biggest runs of grilse and sea trout were in May and June. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1913 was £447 5s. 



2. The assessment levied was 7s. 6d. per £, which should have yielded 



£167 14s. 5d. ; and the assessments actually received were £163 Os. 4d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 2 in number permanently, and 1 tem- 



porarily (in autumn). 



4. Two prosecutions were instituted. In one the accused was found guilty 



and fined 5s. In the other proceedings were abandoned on accused 

 paying 30s., and giv^ing a written undertaking not to repeat the offence. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — None. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes, with the exception of 



the hecks. There is some trouble occasionally with the millers, who 

 claim a right to keep hecks open for several months in winter when 

 leaves are coming down. Meantime these are all kept closed ; and 

 it is proposed to take steps to compel the observance of the bye-laws 

 next year, if there is any trouble. 



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



Pollutions— 



The existing pollutions are : — Dross washings from coal pits, preventing 

 the fish from rising, but not injurious to their health. 



The Salmon Disease — 



None. 



The deaths from natural causes were : — 11 males, and 6 females. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spa^vning on 17th November 1912. 



2. The greatest number spawned in the last week of December 1912. 



3. SpawTiing ceased in the second week of January 1913. 



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



spawning season is regarded as fairly good. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in May and June 1913. 



2. As a smolt year 1913 was average. 



REPORT FROM BOON DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse taken from the lower beat, i.e. from 

 the mouth of the river to Cassillis Gate, was : — 

 (a) By fixed engines in the sea — None. 



