of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



247 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £3756 6s. 8d. 



2. The assessment levied was 4s. 6d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 11 in number. 



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



were instituted in 10 cases, implicating 15 men, consisting of breach 

 of weekly close time, breaches of the annual close time, possession of 

 unclean salmon, illegally taking the fish from dam dykes when ascending 

 to the spawning grounds, and exposing salmon for sale during the annual 

 close time. There were proceedings taken in 4 drift net cases and 

 perpetual interdict was obtained against 8 men in Dunfermline Sheriff 

 Court. One man was tried for a breach of interdict in Falkirk Sheriff 

 Court and fined £5 and £3 costs or 30 days' imprisonment. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — No. Hecks are not kept at 



intakes and outlets of mill lades. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — During the course of the year several 



important improvements have been effected on the fish pass erected at 

 Airthrey dam dyke, on the Allan. The bottom of the pass, extending 

 from the entrance to one half of its length, was lowered so that the fish 

 can swim direct from the river into the pass. This has effected a very 

 great improvement, with the result that the fish are now easily able to 

 ascend the pass in ordinary flood water. Large numbers of fish have, 

 by means of the pass, been able to reach the spawning ground on the 

 upper reaches of the Allan. A number of spawning fish have, however, 

 failed as formerly to enter the pass and are still in the river below the 

 pass ; but in view of the breadth of the river at this point, it is extremely 

 difficult to secure that the whole of the fish shall enter the pass. The 

 Board have still this matter under consideration. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Kippenross old cruive. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage from the towns on the Forth and 



tributaries. Chemicals from paper mills, dye works and bleach works, 

 gas works and coal pits. 



2. Remedial measures — None. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of October, and 



reached its height in January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in March. 



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



follows : — 1075 salmon, grilse, and sea trout, of which 637 were males 

 and 438 females. All were kelts. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on November 1st. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased at end 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 middle of March. 



2. As a smolt year 1911 was about the average. 



REPORT FROM TAY DISTRICT. 



Take of Pish - 



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



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — Below average, 

 (c) By rod and line — Below average. 



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



