of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



0 



to the dimensions of the erection previous to its alteration, it is impossible 

 to verify these complaints. 



The importance of enforcing the first six sections of this bye-law, and 

 of having plans made of the various dam dykes, so as to determine 

 accurately their present dimensions, cannot be too strongly impressed on 

 District Boards ; and in districts where no Boards have been formed, it 

 is essential that proprietors of the salmon fisheries should form such 

 Boards, in order that they may avail themselves of the powers con- 

 ferred on them by the Salmon Fishery Acts. 



In the Report of the Royal Commission on Tweed and Solway fisheries, 

 issued in 1896, the need of enforcing the present law with regard 

 to the removal of obstructions is referred to in the following terms : — 

 4 We cannot conclude this branch of our report without saying that, 

 4 in our view, it is a mistake to expect too much from legislation, and 

 4 that we have a strong conviction that, even as the law stands at 

 ' present, much more might be done than is being done to assist the 

 4 natural multiplication of fish in the rivers, by removing obstructions 

 4 which prevent access being obtained to the upper waters, and by 

 1 taking care of the young salmon during their existence in fresh 

 1 water before going down to the sea. There is strong proof that the 

 1 destruction of these immature fish is very great, and is one of the most 

 1 serious losses to which a salmon river is subjected. The capture of 

 4 such by anglers and others should be prevented by every reasonable 

 4 means, and the law as to the protection of the intakes of mill raceways 

 * should be more strictly carried out, so that fish may not get into them. 

 ' The natural enemies of the young fish, such as pike and eels, especially 

 4 the latter, should be kept down as much as possible, but little or no 

 4 attention appears to have been paid to this.' 



During 1896, investigations were made to determine whether salmon Salmon 

 do or do not feed in fresh-water \ whether they cease feeding during the Fishery 

 later stages of the development of their genitalia when in the sea ; and Investi & 

 to determine the chemical changes which take place in their organs 

 throughout the year. For this purpose salmon were supplied from the 

 upper and lower waters of the Helmsdale, Spey, Dee, and Annan, 

 through the courtesy and liberality of the Duke of Richmond, the Duke 

 of Sutherland, the Duke of Fife, Mr Mackenzie of Newbie, Mr Hey wood 

 Lonsdale, Invereshie, and the District Board of the river Dee (Aberdeen- 

 shire). The investigations were conducted under the supervision of Dr 

 Noel Paton, Superintendent of the Research Laboratory of the Royal Col- 

 lege of Physicians, who, together with a number of other skilled workers, 

 kindly undertook to conduct a series of researches provided arrangements 

 were made for a regular supply of material being furnished them through- 

 out the year. The completion of the work has been delayed through the 

 illness of two of the observers, and through the Royal College of Physi- 

 cians having removed their laboratory to new premises. The study of 

 the female salmon is, however, nearly complete, and that of the males 

 is now being pursued. I have received a letter from Dr Noel Paton in 

 which he states that he expects to be able to submit a detailed report 

 in the course of the present summer. He adds that the investigations 

 have been undertaken on the following plan by the various workers : — 



First. On whether salmon feed in fresh-water, and, throughout the 

 whole season, in the sea? 



(a) Structural changes in the lining membrane of the stomach and 



intestine, and in the digestive gland. By Dr Lovell Gnlland. 



(b) Activity of digestive secretiou. By Dr Gillespie. 



