of the Fislwry Board for Scotland. 



269 



Changes in Office Bearers of District Board— 



At the triennial election of the Board held in October 1914, the following 

 members were elected : — 



By Lower Proprietors. 

 The Earl of Weniyss and March. 

 Colonel J. A. G. Richardson Drummond 



Hay of Seggieden. 

 Commander W. Maitland Dougall, R.N., 

 Scotscraig. 



Chair7nan : — 



The Tay Salmon Fisheries Co. Ltd., as the Proprietor having largest rental. 

 Other officials as before. 



By Upper Proprietors. 

 The Earl of Mansfield. 

 The Earl of Ancaster. 

 J. Stewart Robertson of Edra- 

 dynate. 



REPORT FROM SOUTH ESK DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish- 

 Information not available. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1914 was £3526. 



2. The assessment levied was £352 12s. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 8 in number during the close season and 



3 during the summer. 



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



cases reported implicating 5 persons, 2 of these were convicted, m 1 the 

 decision was not proven," and no proceedmgs were taken agamst 2. 

 Offences : — Using drag liooks, taking unclean salmon, and being in 

 possession of salmon in close time. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fisli— 



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



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



is an improvement within recent years. 



3. Fish passes biiilt or in prospect : — None. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — ^The town and bleachfields of Brechin. 



2. Remedial measures : — No change since last year. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in June.-« 



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



as follows : — 



Males. Females. 



Kelts 615 1065 



Clean 23 86 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were lirst noticed spawning on 20th October 1913. 



2. The greatest number spawned during last week of November and first week 



of December, 



3. Spawning ceased aljout end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as an average one. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seaAvards early in April, and con- 



tinued during May and June. 



2. As a smolt year 1914 was a good average. 



