of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



259 



The Salmon Disea. 



1. Disease made its a},^ arance this year in the month of November, and 



reached its height in December. 

 The river was free of diseased tish in June. 



2, The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was 92, 



as follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, 74 18 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 26th September 1909. 



2. The greatest number spawned in October and November 1909. 



3. Spawning ceased by end of March 1910, 



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



spawning season is regarded as a record good one. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards from early in April till end 



of summer months, but principally May and first half of June. 



2. As a smolt year 1910 was certainly a good one. 



REPORT FROM LOSSIE DISTRICT. 



John Hector, fish merchant, South Market Street, Aberdeen, is the tenant 

 of the salmon fishings, and reports that the season has been a poor one ; 

 but as it is his first season he cannot say whether it is above or under 

 the average. 



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

 Grilse and sea trout run up the river Lossie to seek the higher spaAvning 

 grounds, when freshets occur, from and after the middle of July. 



Protection— 



1. His Grace the Duke of Richmond and^Gordon, K.G., paid £75 4s, lid., 

 and Captain J. Brander Dunbar, £15. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 3 in number, superintended by Superin- 



tendent Macgregor, of the Spey District Board. 



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



fined 3s. and £1 of expenses, or 7 days' imprisonment, for being found 

 having salmon smolts in his possession. Two men were convicted and 

 fined, one of them £1, with £1 of expenses, while the other was fined 

 15s., with the alternative in both cases of 3 days' imprisonment, on a 

 charge of poaching a partially stranded salmon at a mill dam dyke at 

 Elgin on 3rd August 1910. All of the above-mentioned cases were tried 

 in the Elgin Sheriff Court. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Rocks at Kellas still a 

 partial obstruction. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are: — Some eight distilleries; also Elgin City 



sewage. 



2. Remedial measures :— New purification system at Elgin. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in same month. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in April. 



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



male kelt. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 9th October 1909. 



2. The greatest number spawned during month of November. 

 R 



