254 



Appendices to Twenty-ninth Annual Report 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes, so far as possible. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — None. 



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



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

 12 miles from mouth. 



Pollutions— 



1. The principal existing source of pollution is the effluent from North Esk 



Distillery (when working), about a mile from the mouth of the river. 



2. Remedial measures : — Filtering tanks. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of September 1909, 



and reached its height in January 1910. 

 The river was nearly free of diseased fish in March, but the disease 

 appeared again in May and continued until the end of June. 



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



follows : — 83 male and 33 female salmon ; total 116. 



Males. Females. 



Baggots, 11 16 



Kelts, 68 11 



Clean, 4 6 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on November 9th, 1909. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December 1909, 



3. Spawning ceased in February 1910. 



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



spawning season is regarded as fair, but rather below average. 



Smolts— 



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



2. As a smolt year 1910 was very good. 



Note. — By a clerical error in the 12th Section of the Act of 1868 the word 

 "less" is used in place of "more," relating to the raising, during the 

 weekly close time, of the Kinnaber lade sluice, at the Morphie dyke. 

 This was proposed to be amended by Sub-section (ii.) of Section 29 of 

 the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, 1905. The above Section of the 

 Act of 1868 has now been repealed by Section 15 (5) of the Montrose 

 W^ater, &c., Order Confirmation Act, 1910. 



REPORT FROM BERVIE DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



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

 previous years — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — Salmon and sea trout above the 



average ; grilse average. 

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

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



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



The first grilse was taken in the sea on 21st May, being about the same 

 date as in previous years. Sea trout were got in abundance about the 

 1st of June, about a fortnight earlier than previous years. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 38 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — On 6th July, in a bag 



net at Gourdon. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £1095 13s. 



2. The assessment levied was 16^ per cent. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 5 in number. 



