274 



Appendices to Twenty -ninth Annual Report 



Smolts— 



1 . Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the last week in April and 



the first week in May. 



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



REPORT FROM NITH DISTRICT. 



Take of Pish— 



1. The number of fish caught : — 



(a) By fixed engine — Cannot be ascertained. 

 {}}) By sweep net — Over last year's average, 

 (c) By rod and line — Over last year's average. 



2. The actual number of fish caught : — 



(a) By fixed engine — Cannot be ascertained. 

 {})) By sweep net — Cannot be ascertained. 



(c) By rod and line — Cannot be ascertained correctly, but, so far as 

 known, 79 salmon and grilse, i.e., 52 salmon and 27 grilse. 



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



Grilse about beginning of June ; sea trout early in March. 



4. The v/eight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 31| lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — On 3rd November, by 



rod and line, in Portrack Water 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for year 1910 was £509 4s. 4d. 



2. The assessment levied was 5s. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs emjiloyed are 1 in number, with about 20 gamekeepers 



sworn in as special watchers. 



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



involving twelve persons, nine of whom were convicted, and the charge 

 against three withdrawn. The offences were contravention of Sections 

 15 (4) and 17 of Salmon Act, 1868, and Section 9 of Solway Fishing 

 Act. Fines varied from £2 10s. to £3 18s. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — Nil. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Observed except in regard to 



Dalgonar meal mill, Dunscore parish. The caul there is not in a good 

 state to allow fish to pass, and no fish pass is constructed. The stream is 

 divided by an island, and the dam only extends to the island. When 

 the water is not very low fish may ascend on the other side. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect :■ — None. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are: — " Cluden Rocks," in river 



Cairn, at Gribton saw mill, Holywood parish, which are an obstruction 

 in low water. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — The effluents from the mills at Dumfries 

 containing dye, which are stilt unconnected with the sewage system. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height and disappeared in May. 



2. No diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in first week in January. 



2. The greatest number spawned during January and February. 



3. Spawning ceased at the end of February. 



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



spawning season is regarded as fair, but owing to excessive floods in 

 January and February, spawning beds must have been very much 

 damaged. 



