of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



275 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in the first week in December. 



2. The greatest number spawned towards the middle of December. 



3. Spawning ceased towards middle of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as a good one. 



Smolts— 



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



2. As a smolt year 1912 was good. 



REPORT FROM GIBVAJV DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The actual number of fish caught has been as follows : — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — About 600 salmon, 400 grilse, and 



370 sea trout (reported by lessees). 

 (6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — None, 

 (c) By rod and line — 45 salmon and 203 sea trout, so far as 



recorded. 



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



First salmon caught 7th March, lbs. ; second salmon, 13th March, 

 7^ lbs. ; first sea trout, 21st May, 3| lbs. 



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

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Captured in July, in 



bag-net in Estuary. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1912 was £543 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was £27 3s. 6d. 



3. One water bailiff" employed. 



4. No prosecutions instituted, 



Obstructions to the Passage of Pish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case? — Yes, so far as kn own. 



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



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



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Pollution from water oozing from old disused 

 pits at Dailly still continues, also from working collieries. Pollution 

 from Maybole sewage works is being remedied at a cost of about £2500 

 to that Burgh. Pollution from crude sewage being allowed to run into 

 the river at Girvan, from w.c.'s, etc., has in several cases been put a 

 stop to, but there is still some crude sewage reaching the river from 

 houses where it has been found difficult to use the ordinary town drains 

 owing to levels. The Burgh authorities in these cases are responsible, 

 and they will probably be asked to adopt other means for the disposal of 

 this sewage. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. No disease. 



The Spawning- Season- 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning at end of November. 



2. The greatest number spawned about the latter end of December. 



3. Spawning ceased early in January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as average. 



S 



