254 



Appendices to Thirty-first Annual Report 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in March. 



2. As a sniolt year 1912 was under the average, so far as could be seen, but 



the water was fairly heavy and they were not so easily seen. 



REPORT FROM SOUTH ESK DISTRICT. 



Take of Pish- 



1. The number of fish taken was : — 



(a) Bv fixed encrine 1 ^^^^ fishing till end of May, June rather 

 (6) B swee net 1 poor, July and August bad, August poorest 

 \ ) y sweep ne j '^^^ many years. 



(c) By rod and line — About an average. 

 4. The Aveight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 43 lbs., 

 by net, 30 lbs. by rod. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1912 was £3601 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was £324 18s. lOd. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 8 in number. 



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



cases of poaching were tried before the Sheriff this year, implicating 

 seven persons — two cases for being in possession of salmon during the 

 close time, one for fishing for trout with an net having an illegal mesh, 

 one for killing trout with a hack in a lade. Two of the seven persons 

 implicated were convicted, and the charge against two was found not 

 proven. Fines ranged from 30s. to £2 10s. and expenses. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — The bye-laws are fairly well 



observed. 



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



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — None. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are mostly from the town and mills of Brechin. 



2. Remedial measures : — A few settling tanks have been put down, but have 



made little improvement. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in March. 

 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 - - - 350 450 



Clean, - - - - - - 160 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning during the first week of November at 



Brechin and Cortachy. 



2. The greatest number spawned from the middle of December to the 10th 



of January. 



3. Spawning ceased about the end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as one of the best. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards during April and May. 



2. As a smolt year 1912 was good. 



