of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



45 



4. No fish-passes in the ordinary sense of that word in district. 



5. No ; but there is a natural obstruction at the Falls of Lui which prevents 



salmon from going further up, and the attention of the Duke of Fife 

 has been called to this with the view of having it removed. 



6. None, except as above. 



Pollutions — 



1 and 2. No fresh causes of pollution were introduced. The Board were 

 able to conclude an agreement with the Town Council of Aberdeen 

 under which the latter became bound to convey out to the sea at Girdle- 

 ness the sewage at present being discharged into the river near the 

 mouth. The Town Council are now proceeding with the scheme for 

 carrying this agreement into effect. 



The Salmon Disease — 

 1, 2, 3, and 4. No diseased fish seen in river in 1899. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. End of October. 



2. Upper river between 1st and 30th November. Lower river between 



15th December and 15th January. 



3. Practically about the end of January. 



4. High as a rule. 



5. Less than usual. 



6. Upper river and tributaries in upper district. 



Kelts— 



1. At 1st January. 



2. During April. 



3. Never quite free, but freest in May, after which few seen. 



4. As a rule high. 



Smolts — 



1. Middle of March. 



2. Yes. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 



Hatchery at Drum carried on as formerly. 714,000 ova put into the 

 hatchery boxes in 1899. Doing well as far as can be seen. Should 

 hatch about 1st February, and will be put into the river early in June. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 

 No information obtainable on this point. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER DON. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (a) Average ; (b) below the average ; (c) and (d) average. 



2. No. 



3. (a) 11th February; (6) month of July ; (c) middle of June to middle 



of July. 



4. No information on these points. 



5. (a) 25 lbs.; (6) 45 lbs.; (c) 40 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. £3,429 18s. lid. 



2. 23 per cent, on above rental. 



3. Fourteen bailiffs. 



4. Ten prosecutions, implicating 14 persons, chiefly for offence of having in 



their possession instruments for catching salmon. All convicted, three 

 of whom settled, but others went to prison. 



