of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



267 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1914 was £3796 3s. 8d. 



2. The assessment levied was 4s. per £. 



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



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



ings were taken in 4 cases, implicating 7 men. The cases consisted of 

 breach of the weekly close time, ilkigal })Ossession of gaff's or cleeks, and 

 being in possession of salmon smolts. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish- 

 Extensive alterations and improvements have been made on the dam 

 dyke across the River Allan at Dunblane, with the result that it has 

 proved, during this season a.nd last, an insuperable obstacle to the 

 passage of ascending fish. Large numbers of fish have been taken from 

 the river below the dam and returned to the river above the dam. 

 The owners of the dam dyke (the Dunblane Gas Company) have been 

 called upon by the District Fishery Board to construct a salmon pass or 

 ladder on the do^vn-stream face of the dam dyke, in accordance with 

 the regulations annexed to the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1868. 

 They have refused to do so, and allege that to construct such a pass 

 or ladder would materially affect the water rights pertaining to the 

 mill, which they have enjoyed from time immemorial. An action 

 is at present pending in the Sheriff Court at Dunblane. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Dyeworks, paper works, tanneries, bleach 



works, gas works, and coal pits. 



2. Remedial measures : — The District Fishery Board, with the limited powers 



at their command, are doing all they can to mitigate the existing 

 pollution in the river, and particularly, they are watching fresh sources 

 of pollution and taking measures to stop them. They are also 

 endeavouring to get the Countj^ Councils and District Committees to 

 put in force the provisions of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, with 

 a view to stop, or at least greatly to mitigate, the existing pollutions. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of October 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 272 68 



Clean 9 — 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 15th October. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased at end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as a good one for salmon and sea trout, 

 but grilse were very scarce. 



Smolts— 



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



June. 



2. As a smolt year 1914 was about the average. 



Changes in Office-Bearers of District Board- 

 Sir A. K. Midr of Blairdrummond has been elected a lepresentative of 

 the Upper Proprietors, in place of Captain W. A. S. Home-Drummond 

 Moray of Abercairney. 



