of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



29 



Abortive attempts have been made to improve the Douglas, and much 

 benefit would accrue if the proprietors permitted the ascent of the 

 Endrick to be made easier for the fish, which might be done at a very 

 small cost. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are still flagrant. 



(1) The Clyde is still badly polluted by Glasgow sewage, though the great 



purification scheme, now approaching completion, may be expected 

 to remedy matters to an unknown extent. As it is, experimental 

 netting has shown that no salmon or sea trout run above Bowling. 



(2) The Leven suffers from gross sewage pollution by the town of Dum- 



barton, a complete system of water closets now carrying the whole 

 town sewage uncleansed into the river, in spite of objections raised 

 by the owners of the fishery. Such a flagrant dereliction of duty by 

 a local authority deserves the severest censure, and it is to be 

 regretted that the Fishery Board possesses no power of initiative to 

 meet such cases. The Leven is also still polluted by domestic 

 sewage carried from the old existing sewers serving the smaller 

 towns on its banks. The County Council of Dumbarton are in this 

 matter responsible, but they have recently shown a disposition to 

 conserve the amenity of the river by inaugurating a complete 

 modern system of purification in connection with large new sewers at 

 Alexandria. The river is still greatly polluted and much discoloured 

 by discharges from the various works on its banks, but the owners 

 have largely endeavoured to meet objections by remedial works, and 

 certainly exercise considerable care lest actively poisonous discharges 

 enter the river. The problem locally is one of much difficulty, 

 because vacant ground once available for settling tanks has been 

 covered by buildings in extending the works to the utmost. The 

 innocuous disposal of waste products ought to be a primary charge 

 upon all industries, but even approximate restoration of the river to 

 its pristine purity would now be a very costly business. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in February. 



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



follows : — 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning — Sea trout, 7th October ; salmon, 28th 



November. 



2. The greatest number spawned — Sea trout, November ; salmon, December. 



3. Spawning ceased — Sea trout, December ; salmon, February. 



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



spawning season is regarded as one of the most favourable that has ever 

 been noted in the district. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the beginning of May. 



2. As a smolt year 1908 was rather below the average. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon— 



1. The number of ova secured locally during the past season was 100,000 



salmon ova and 130,000 sea trout ova. 



2. In securing ova the numbers of male and female fish captured were not 



noted. 



In many respects it cannot be said that the district suffers through the 

 absence of a District Board. The policy of most Boards is necessarily founded 



Kelts, . 



Males. 

 6 



Females. 

 12 



General Observations. 



