of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 



253 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £3424. 



2. The assessment levied was £342 8s. 



3. The water bailiffs enij)loycd are 8 in number. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — Three cases, 



implicating five persons. Fines ranged from 10s. to £3 and expenses ; 

 alternatives from 7 to 21 days. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect: — No change. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case l — Fairly well observed. There 



has been an improvement during the past year. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — Passes on most of dam dykes on river. 



4. No natural obstructions in the river. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are mostly from the town and mills of Brechin. 



2. Remedial measures : — None. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its apj)earance this year in the month of December, and 



reached its height in March. 

 The river was practically free of diseased fish by the end of May. 



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



follows : — Kelts, 364 ; clean fish, 66. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in first week of November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased about the middle of February. 



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



spawning season is regarded as good. 



Smolts— 



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



2. As a smolt year 1910 was a good average. 



REPORT FROM NORTH ESK DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish- 



1. The take of fish has been — 



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



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters— Above the average. 



(c) By rod and line — Above the average. 



2. The actual number of fish caught has been : — By rod and line during 

 September and October, 304 salmon, 196 grilse ; total 500. 



3. For each month of the season the figures are : — 132 in September and 368 

 in October. 



Sea trout appeared early in April. 

 Grilse rather later than usual. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season from river 



was 38^ lbs. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — (October, by rod and 

 line, from Morphie dyke pool. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £7620 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was 5| per cent. 



3. The water bailifts employed are 12 in number including superintendent. 



4. Prosecutions instituted : — None. 



