of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



251 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused— At Upper Mill of Allardice, which has now ceased 



working. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Yes. 



3. One fish pass in prospect of being built at Gibb's dam dyke. Plans 



prepared and approved. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance in November 1910, and reached its height in 



February 1911. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in March. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 



Kelts, 61 60 



Clean, 1 2 



The Spawning" Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 2nd November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in November, December, and January. 



3. Spawning ceased about 18th February. 



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



spawning season is regarded as having been very good. The river was 

 slightly in flood during the whole of the spawning season. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April up to the end of 



June. 



2. As a smolt year 1911 was fair. 



REPORT FROM DEE DISTRICT {ABERDEENSHIRE). 

 Season 1911. 



Take of Fish— 



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



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — Above average. 



(c) By rod and line — Above average in spring, but far below in 



autumn owing to the lowness of the river in September and 



October. 



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



Sea trout were caught at the commencement of the fishing season on 

 11th February, but there was no great run of grilse in 1911. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 48 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are: — Caught at Newtonhill 



fishings, in the sea, between Aberdeen and Stonehaven, on the 15th of 

 August. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £18,005 9s. 



2. The assessment levied was 5i per cent, on the rental — £990 5s. lid. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 22 in number, including inspector, 5 of 



whom are kept on for the whole year, 13 for 9 months, and 4 for short 

 periods during spawning season. 



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



ten prosecutions against persons for breaches of the Salmon Fisheries 

 Acts, implicating nine men (one man having been twice prosecuted) — 

 two cases, implicating two men, for dragging river with "sniggers"; 

 two cases, implicating two men, for having unseasonable salmon in 

 possession ; two cases against one man for using nets in channel at 

 mouth of Aberdeen Harbour ; one case against two men for trespass and 

 using "clips"; all the above were convicted and fined, the fines 

 ranging from 5s. to £4 with expenses. Two cases against two men for 

 having smolts in possession ; one case against one man for trespass and 

 attempting to take salmon with a "clip;" the last three cases were 

 settled out of Court. 



