274 



Appendices to Thirty -first Animal Report 



Pollutions— 



1. There are no pollutions. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its api)earance this year in the month of August 1911, and 



continued to March 1912. 

 The river was free of diseased tish in March 1912. 



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



93 — 78 males and 15 females. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 15th November 1911. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December and January. 



3. Spawning ceased in the last week in January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as fair. There were a very large number 

 of fish on the spawning beds, but much of the spawn must have been 

 destroyed owing to the very heavy floods which occurred during the 

 spawning season. 



Smolts— 



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



2. As a smolt year 1912 was above the average. 



REPORT FROM DOON DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. As compared with the results of previous years, the take of fi.%h generally 



throughout the district was below the average. This is accounted for 

 by the dry state of the weather throughout practically the whole season. 



2. As many of the proprietors do not keep an accurate, or any record at all, 



of the times when, and the actual number of fish caught, it is impossible 

 to give reliable information on the subject. Most fish were killed in 

 October. The first salmon was caught in the sea nets on 22nd 

 February. The first salmon by rod and line was caught in the tidal 

 waters on 1st March ; weight 8 lbs. 



3. Particulars as to the times salmon, grilse, and sea trout appeared are as 



follow : — The first run of spring fish took place on 2nd Deceml^er 1911, 

 and the second run on 22nd February. There were runs of salmon 

 and sea trout in June and first week in July. The principal runs took 

 place in the last week in July and first week in August. No separate 

 runs of grilse and sea trout at the usual times were observed. The 

 heaviest run of sea trout took place on 17th October, which is an 

 unusually late date. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season by rod and 



line was 23 lbs. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — It was killed on the 

 Auchendrane stretch of the river, about four miles from the sea. The 

 heaviest salmon taken in the sea nets weighed 30 lbs. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1912 was £499. 



2. The assessment levied was £212 Is. 6d. 



3. The water bailiff's employed are two in number. During the season 



an extra bailiff was employed to assist in the watching of the lower 

 reaches of the river. 



4. There were no prosecutions instituted during the year. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



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



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



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — The only natural obstruction 



not yet dealt with is the bar of sand and shingle blocking the mouth 

 of the river. A number of the proprietors of salmon fishings in the 

 river endeavoured to have the matter remedied, but unfortunately 

 their proposals had to be abandoned owing to the objections of a 

 proprietor of the adjoining foreshore. 



