of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



251 



2. The actual miniber of fish caught has been as follows : — No means of 



knowing. 



3. Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared are as follow : — 



Trout, all the season. Best month for trout, July. Best month for 

 grilse, August ; and best month for salmon, also August. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 40| lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — 14th August, Caiplie 



Fish'ing Station, on the Fife sea coast. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £3647 7s. lid. 



2. The assessment levied was 4s. 6d. per £*. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 10 in number, and 1 superintendent. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — Prosecutions 



were instituted against 16 men, and convictions followed. The cases 

 consisted of fishing with and being in possession of salmon roe, taking 

 unclean salmon, attempting illegally to take salmon, and breach of the 

 weekly close time. There are 6 men charged with a breach of interdict 

 in the Court of Session for fishing with drift or hang nets in the estuary. 

 These cases are still pending. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect — None. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — No. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — None. An attempt was made at the 



end of the season to improve the recently-erected salmon pass on the 

 Airthrey dam dyke. Bridge of Allan, by making a pool at the mouth of 

 the pass, and some alterations on the bed of the river, so as to give the 

 fish a better lead to the pool. This work has effected an improvement, 

 but the general opinion is that grave defects exist in the pass itself. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Kippenross old cruive. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage from collieries, distilleries, paper 



works, dye works, and tan works. 



2. Remedial measures : — Urging parties concerned to remedy matters under 



threat of the adoption of legal proceedings. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in May. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, 104 42 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in October, 1909. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased in February. 



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



spawning season is regarded as ab6ut the average. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in March. 



2. As a smolt year 1910 was about the average. 



REPORT FROM TAY DISTRICT. 



Take of Pish- 



1. State whether the take of fish has been above or below the average of 

 previous years — 



{a) By fixed engines in the sea — A good average. 

 (6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — A good average, 

 (c) By rod and line — Above average in spring ; below in autumn, 

 owing to low state of river. 



