6 



Appendices to Twenty-fourth Annnal Report 



steaming effluent — from wool-scouring — pouring down the bank 

 from a pipe. The yellowish fluid seemed to be boiling. 



Speaking of the Tarff, one may say that, owing to the marked 

 and complete abstraction of water which obtains, and which has 

 apparently been permitted to occur without remonstrance for many 

 years, it is clear that at all ordinary levels of water this tributary 

 of the Bladenoch is closed to fish, and that even if fish run up as 

 they appear to do during floods they are liable to be left danger- 

 ously exposed when the water falls. 



Since the requirements of the Salmon Acts for the providing of 

 salmon passes, sluices, and hecks are incorporated in Bye-law G of 

 the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1868, active measures for 

 obtaining compliance can only be put in force at the instance of a 

 clerk to a District Fishery Board. I am of opinion that much 

 good would result to the fisheries, whether sporting or netting, of 

 the whole district if, after suitable arrangement of the roll entries, 

 a Board could be formed which, through their clerk, could satis- 

 factorily attack the difficulties which have been allowed to arise in 

 the district, and by whom water bailiffs, or local keepers sworn in 

 as bailiffs, could prevent poaching and other illegal practices. 



I have since been informed that in all probability a Board will 

 shortly be constituted. 



Girvan. 



From reports previously made, the Fishery Board is aware that 

 in February 1902 a most disastrous pollution occurred in this river 

 from the pumping of accumulated water from the Dalquharran 

 Coal Pit. The water was pumped into a burn which flows into 

 the Girvan near Dailly, and from the mouth of this burn to the sea 

 every fish in the Girvan died. After a fire in the pit in question, 

 the water which was allowed to flood the pit, and to accumulate 

 after the pit was temporarily shut down, became highly charged 

 with metallic salts, especially sulphate of iron. When this water 

 was at length pumped out into the burn adjoining the pit a copious 

 precipitate of a bright orange colour was formed. Certain remedial 

 measures were tried, as described in my report for the year 1903, 

 but finally, by the continual process of pumping, the poisonous 

 qualities which had accumulated were gradually got rid of, and the 

 Girvan returned to its former state. In June last I visited the 

 Dalquharran Pit and inspected the burn between the pit and the 

 river. The bed of the burn I found to be thickly crusted with the 

 precipitate of iron, and still of the bright orange colour, but the 

 water itself was running clear. I saw also the six settling ponds 

 which had been specially constructed to combat the evil, but 

 without effect. For two seasons now the reports reaching me have 

 been to the effect that salmon were returning to the river and a 

 small number spawning in the upper reaches. 



On 8th November I received a letter from the Clerk to the 

 District Fishery Board informing me that a meeting of the Board 

 had been held for the purpose of considering what steps should be 

 taken to improve the river in view of the cessation of the pollution 

 above referred to, and asking advice as to proposals for artificially 



