of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



249 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £3464. 



2. The assessment levied was £415 13s. 7d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 8 in number during close season and 3 



during fishing season. 



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



prosecutions, implicating three persons — one for using drag hook and 

 being in possession of unclean salmon, and one for being in possession 

 of unclean salmon. All convicted. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Not in every case. 



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



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



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — The town and mills of Brechin. 



2. Remedial measures : — New settling tanks are being erected. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



reached its height in January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in June. 



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



follows : — 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning during the last week of October, 1910. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased about the end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as good. 



Smolts- 



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



2. As a smolt year 1911 was a good average. 



Take of Fish— 



1. The take of fish— 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — Has been above the average. 



(b) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters —Below average. 



(c) By rod and line — Below average. 



2. The actual number of fish caught has been : — By rod and line, during 



September and October, 122 salmon and 41 grilse ; total 163. No 

 statistics as to fish caught otherwise. 



3. Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared, as included in 



the above return, are as follow : — First trout caught April 11th. Sea 

 trout appeared early in April, but were not so plentiful as in 1910. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 40 lbs., 



viz., in August, from the sea. Another, about 30 lbs., was taken in 

 October from the river, by rod and line. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £7617 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was 6 per cent. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 12 in number, including superintendent. 



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



Kelts, - 

 Clean, 



Males. 

 973 



Females. 

 502 

 10 



REPORT FROM NORTH ESK DISTRICT. 



