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Part III. — Twenty -fourth Animal Report 



70 per cent, of first-class sprats, the number of young food fishes other 

 than young herring forming only an insignificant fraction. 



The sprats were mostly of large size, their average sizes varying from 

 9 8cm. to 12'5cm., and contrasted greatly with the much smaller and 

 younger sprats of last season. 



Unlike last season, there was a keen demand for sprats throughout 

 almost the whole of this season, and the usually brisk competition amongst 

 the buyers kept the prices generally at a high standard. 



In consequence of the good prices which the fishermen obtained for 

 their fish, there was less dissatisfaction amongst them than last year, but 

 there still remained great discontent amongst the buyers, owing to what 

 they consider the excessive railway rates charged for the carriage of the 

 fish to the various English markets. 



The complaints of the fishermen gradually increased, however, as the 

 fish became scarcer, and much real distress prevailed again during January 

 and February. 



With regard to the great scarcity of fish during December, January, 

 and February, some of the men thought it was because of the want of 

 south-easterly gales, and others because of the weak tides, heavy spates, 

 and frosty weather. I also interviewed a few old fishermen, some of 

 whom had been all their days taking part in the various fishings on the 

 River Tay, and one and all complained bitterly of the great scarcity of all 

 kinds of fish in the River Tay at the present day. They attribute this 

 great scarcity of fish to the general increase in the numbers of bleaching 

 works, dye works, ink factories, paper mills, and tanneries, and to the 

 gradually increased sewerage from Perth downwards. They declare that 

 20 and 25 years ago fish of many different kinds were very plentiful in 

 all parts of the river ; salmon and trout were exceedingly plentiful, and 

 great numbers of large black flounders were got all the way from New- 

 burgh to Broughty-Ferry, and were particularly plentiful on the north side 

 of the Middle-Bank, where they are now scarce and of a much smaller 

 size. Large cod were also very plentiful in various parts of the estuary, 

 and were occasionally captured in considerable numbers as far up the 

 estuary as Invergowrie Bay. Plaice, dabs, brill, and other fishes were also 

 in much greater numbers than at the present day. During that time — 

 20 and 25 years ago — the sprat boats only numbered some half-dozen, but 

 they quickly increased until they numbered somewhere about 30, and 

 have remained at about that number for many years. 



Here I must mention, in connection with the general scarcity of fish in 

 the river, the bitter complaints of the sprat fishermen and the Broughty- 

 Ferry fishermen, who allege that the barge and dredger men in the 

 employment of the Dundee Harbour Trustees deposit large quantities of 

 mud and filth in the vicinity of Monifieth Bay, and have thus completely 

 destroyed excellent spawning grounds of the winter herring. The barges 

 containing mud dredged from the Dundee and Tayport harbours are 

 supposed to be towed out to the mouth of the river, but the fishermen 

 assert that on the approach of darkness, or if there be the least sign of a 

 storm outside, the mud is at once dumped down in the vicinity of 

 Monifieth Bay. I advised the fishermen to communicate with the Fishery 

 Board in connection with the matter, but found later that the Broughty- 

 Ferry Town Council had been in communication with the Dundee 

 Harbour Trustees, and that the latter had, in consequence, instructed their 

 employees to convey all mud to the mouth of the river. 



During the course of this season's fishing, I pointed out to several 

 fishermen and buyers that the Fishery Board regretted the destruction of 

 so many young herring and sprats in the Tay estuary, and I suggested 



