288 



Appendices to Thirty-third Anmial Eeport 



REPORT FROM A YR DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The number of salmon and grilse : — 



By rod and lino — ^81. 



2. The estimated oatoh in relation to that of former years was below the 



average. 



3. Sear front : — The number taken was very much below the average. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 29| lb. 



The average weight of the salmon eaaght throiighout the season was 

 13 11). • 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — On Craigie stretch in 

 August. 



The largest catch was in October. 



The first run of salmon was in the last week of April and the first week 

 of May. The number was small. The largest run of fish was in the 

 last week of July and the first week of August. The first salmon was 

 can gilt on ,5th May on Ayr Corporation stretch. 



Protection — 



1. The assessable rental for 1914 was £442 5s. 



2. The assessment levied was 8s. 6d. per £, 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 2 in number permanently, and 1 tem- 



porarily (in aulunml 



4. Particulars as to pi'osecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — Three 



prosecutions were instituted. In 2 of these, where the charge was the 

 having possession of a gaff for the purpose of catching salmon, con- 

 victions were obtained, fines of 10s. and 5s. respectively being imposed. 

 In the third case, where the chaige was salmon poaching, proceedings 

 were abandoned at the lotiui^st of the proprietor on whose lands the 

 trespass took place. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — ^Yes. 



3. Fish passes built or in ]irospect : — None. 



Pollutions— 

 None. 



The Salmon Disease — 



None. About half a dozen dead salmon were found. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed s])awning in the middle of November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December and January. 



3. Spawning practically ceased about the middle of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as very good. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migratmg seawards in April, May, and June. 



2. As a smolt year 1914 was exceptionally good. 



3. Grilse were running in the first week of September, 



Changes in Office-Bearers of District Board— 



The triennial election of members of the District Board was held on 

 29th September 1914, when the following were elected, viz. : — • 



1. Upper Proprietors. — ^Mr. James Bell of Enterkine, and the Trustees 

 of the late Mr. John Meikle of Berskimmiug. 



2. Lower Proprietors. — -The Duke of Portland, and the Marquess of Ailsa, 

 Chairman. — ^Mr. R, A. Oswald of Auchincruxve. 



