of the, Fishery Board for Scotland. 



273 



salmon ; 3 men (1 case) for trespassing with intent to kill salmon ; 2 

 men (1 case) for taking salmon by means of a gaff, without legal right 

 or permission of the proprietors. 

 One of the above cases was settled out of Court. In the others all were 

 convicted except one who has not yet been tried (he having left the 

 town). The fines ranged from lis. 6d., the amount of the expenses to 

 £4 and expenses, with the alternative of from 5 to 40 days. In one case 

 the accused was admonished and dismissed on account of his youth. 

 Of the others, 3 paid their fines, 8 went to prison, and 5 sentences 

 have not yet been put in force. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — During this year the improve- 



ments at Stoneywood Dam Dyke were finally completed, and are now 

 in full working order. 



2. iVre the bye-laws observed in every case V — No cause for complaint. 



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



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are from paper and tweed mills on the lower river, 



and also to some extent from towns bordering on the river. 



2. Remedial measures are being considered with a. view to reducing the 



pollution from mills, &c., to the smallest amount possible. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



its height in December. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in beginning of May. 



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



as follows : — 



Males. Females. 



Kelts 320 60 



Clean ...... 1 2 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning at beginning of November. 



2. The greatest number spawned about first week of January. 



3. Spawning practically ceased at end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as rather below the average. The low 

 state of the river prevented a good many fish from reaching the spawning 

 grounds, 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the beginning of April. 



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



REPORT FROM RIVER YTHAN DI^STRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. By rod and line — 80 salmon. 



2. The estimated catch in relation to that of former years was ; — 



(a) By fixed engine — A good average, 



(b) By rod and line — Below the average. 



3. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season A\as 40 lb. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — 30th July, in a bag 



net near the mouth of the river Ythan. 



Protection — 



1. The assessable rental for 1914 was £1409. 



2. The assessment levied was £211 17s. 



