30 



Appendices to Twenty -fourth Annual Report 



REPORT FROM NORTH ESK DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. As compared with the average results of previous years, the take of fish 



generally throughout the district has been good. 



2. The actual number of fish caught by rod and line from 31st August, when 



net fishing closed, to 31st October, when rod fishing also closed, was 207 

 salmon and 55 grilse — total 262 — as recorded by bailiffs. No statistics 

 as to fish caught otherwise. 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season by rod and 



line was 30 lbs., and the place of capture Inglismaldie fishings. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1905 was £6489. 



2. The assessment levied was 7 per cent. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 12 in number, including superintendent. 



4. No prosecutions instituted . 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. No dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect. 



2. Bye-laws observed. 



3. No fish passes built or in prospect. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — " Loups," on North Esk, 



about 12 miles from mouth. "Loups," on West Water (tributary), 

 about 12 miles from mouth. 



Pollutions— 



1. The principal existing pollution is the effluent from North Esk Distillery, 



about a mile from the mouth of the river. 

 1. Remedial measures : — Filtering tanks. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance in the month of September 1904, and 



reached its height in January 1905. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in the beginning of March 1905. 



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



as follows : — 





Males. 



Females. 



Total. 



Kelts, .... 



488 



230 



718 



Clean, .... 







19 





737 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning early in November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December and January. 



3. Spawning ceased in the end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as fair ; fish were fewer in the upper 

 reaches, and the river was lower than usual. 



Smolts — 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in March, April, and May. 



2. As a smolt year 1905 was good. 



