56 



A p pi' it dices to Twenty -jourth Annual Report 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1905 was £110. 



2. The assessment levied was £44. 



3. One bailiff only is regularly employed, but during the month of October 



the Board employed the services of a special constable. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follows :— Three 



men were fined for fishing with roe and having salmon roe in their 

 possession ; two of these men were also convicted for having parr in 

 their possession. Two men were fined for having parr in their 

 possession, and one of them was also convicted for having a " jigger " 

 in his possession-— an instrument for dragging for salmon. One man 

 was fined for fishing without permission of the proprietor ; this 

 case has been appealed, and there are six similar cases awaiting the 

 decision in that appeal. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1 . Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — The only obstruction to the 



passage of fish is the dam dyke at Catrine Cotton Works, and the 

 matter is presently receiving the attention of the Board. 



2. With regard to the observance of bye-laws : — The bye-laws are pretty 



generally observed. There are one or two mill lades with hecks which 

 are not satisfactory, but the Board is having them put in order. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — There are no fish passes in the dam 



dyke at Catrine Cotton Works before referred to, but the Board has 

 presently the matter before them. 



Smolts- 



'1. Sniolts were ?ioticed to be migrating seawards in end of April, in May, 



and in the beginning of June. 

 2. As a smolt year 1905 was an exceptionally plentiful one. The report of 



the bailiff is that smolts were in larger numbers than during any time 



during the past six years. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon- 

 Nothing is being done in this respect. 



The Salmon Disease— 



The river was free of diseased fish during the whole season. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 1st December. 



2. The greatest number spawn during December. 



3. Spawning ceases about the end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as exceptionally good, especially as regards 

 the increasing numbers of sea trout spawning. 



Pollutions— 



L The existing pollutions are : — No cases of pollution came under the 

 notice of the Board during the season. No dead fish were taken out 

 of the water which had been killed by polluting matter. 



REPORT FROM DOON DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish- 



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

 generally throughout the district has been smaller on account of the 

 exceptionally dry season. 

 More particularly it has been 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea, over the average of previous years. 

 (6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters. Fishing in this manner 



is not now employed, 

 (c) By rod and line, below the average. 



