256 



Appendices to Thirty -first Anmial Report 



3. Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appe.ared, as included in 



the above return, are as follow : — Grilse appeared in the first week of 

 May ; sea trout Avere plentiful about the first week of June, both 

 being about their usual time. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 42 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — On 18th April, in a 



bag -net at West Sheildhill. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1912 was £1095 13s. 



2. The assessment levied was 18| per cent, 



3. The water bailiffs employed are four in number. 



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



persons reporte<i for being found in possession of smolts. Fines 

 imposed by Board and settled out of court. One man convicted of 

 river poaching on two occasions and fined for each offence 10s. and 

 £1 Os. 6d. of expenses. Accused went to prison. One case against crew 

 (4 men) of Catterline salmon fishings for attempting to take fish during 

 weekly close time by means of an inshore bag-net. Convictions 

 obtained and each of the crew fined £1 with 18s. 8d. of expenses. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



1. Dam dykes disused : — One at Upper Mill of Allardice, and one at Mill of 



Arbuthnott ; neither of them an obstruction. 



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



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance in December 1911, and reached its height in 



January 1912. 



The river was free of diseased fish in the first week of March. 



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



51 males and 39 females — kelts. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 3rd November 1911. 



2. The greatest number spawned in November and December 1911, and 



January 1912. 



3. Spawning ceased about 20th February 1912. 



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



.spawning season is regarded as having been very good. The river was 

 in flood during the whole of the spawning season, and breeding fish 

 were plentiful. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in March, April, May, and 



June. 



2. As a smolt year 1912 was very good. 



REPORT FROM DEE DISTRICT {ABERDEENSHIRE). 



Take of Pish— 



1. The number of fish taken was : — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea—Below average. 



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — Above average. 



(c) By rod and line— An average over the whole district. 



3. Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared are as follow : — 



Sea trout got at commencement of fishing season, and best 

 take was in June. Grilse appeared in April — best run in July, but over 

 the district the take of grilse was far below the average. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 47 lbs., by 



rod and line. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Kingcaussie (about 

 7 miles up river), 47 lbs., 10th October. By fixed engine on sea coast, 

 43 lbs., on 25th July. By sweep net, 38 lbs., 12th April, at Pot and 

 Ford's fishing. City of Aberdeen. 



