of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



4 7 



4. (a) and (6) The inspector has always found it impossible to obtain 



reliable statistics as to percentage of fish taken in each month. On 

 the Don he thinks the tendency is slightly later — certainly not earlier. 



5. (a) 28 lbs.; (b) 52 lbs.; (c) 28 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. £3645 15s. 8d. 



2. Fifteen per cent, on said rental. 



3. Thirteen. 



4. Eight cases, implicating fifteen persons. Five implicating 10 persons for 



fishing for or taking salmon in close time. Nine of these convicted 

 (1 having left town before trial), fined from £2 to £3 each with 

 expenses. Of the 9, 4 paid and 4 went to prison. The other accused 

 was found to be weak-minded and the penalty was not exacted. Two 

 cases, implicating 4 persons for using illegal instruments — all con- 

 victed, fined from £3 to £5 each with expenses, but went to prison. 

 One case, implicating 1 person for trespassing with intent to kill 

 salmon — convicted and fined £5 with £2 Is. 3d., but went to prison. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 



1. No changes since last year. 



2. Yes. 



3. None — no alterations in 1903. 



4. All, with the exception of Mugiemoss paper mills dyke, and Stoneywood 



paper mills dyke, which are verv difficult to ascend. 



5. No. 



6. No changes have taken place in 1903. 



Pollutions — 



1. No. 



2. Two of the manufactories on the lower reaches of the river — Mugiemoss 



Paper Mills and Grandhome Mills— are, it is understood, proposing 

 to carry out certain works with the view of preventing polluting 

 matter reaching the river. The Aberdeen District Committee of the 

 County Council and the Aberdeen Town Council have not yet taken 

 any practical steps for removing the sewage pollution presenty dis- 

 charged into the river in their respective districts. 



The Salmon Disease — 



1. Yes. Appeared first early in November, and is now (end of December) 



rather prevalent — usually disappears in March as fish make for the sea. 



2. Bather flooded during the whole time. 



3. In November 33 fish taken from river — 20 females, 13 males. In Dec- 



ember up to this time, 94 — 51 females, 43 males. No clean fish. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. Beginning of September (1902). 



2. During the month of December. 



3. Towards the end of January (1903). 



4. Slightly above normal level. 



6. The principal streams or spawning beds are in the upper river — the best 

 being about Glenkindie, Kildrumy, and Alford. 



Kelts— 



1. Beginning of March 1903. 



2. During March. 



3. About end of April (comparatively). 



4. Running high. 



Smolts — 



1. Middle of March. 



2. Very good. 



