of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



253 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect:— No dam dykes on the Dee. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — No cause to complain. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — No fish passes. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are :— In tributary called the 



Feugh, at Banchory-Ternan, there is a natural obstruction ; also in the 

 tributary called the Luie, near Braemar. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are: — Low level sewer at Old Ford Road, 

 Aberdeen, which discharges into the river about a mile from the sea. 

 Discharges from several drainage districts, country villages, and mansion 

 houses along the course of the river. Discharge from Culter Paper 

 Mills, which has been somewhat less serious the last year or two. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of June. The river 



was comparatively free of diseased fish in January, 1911. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 



Kelts, 925 134 



Clean, 7 — 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 15th October. 



2. The greatest number spawned in November and December. 



3. Spawning ceased practically in first week of January, 1911. 



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



spawning season is regarded as far above average, but the flooded 

 condition of the river was rather against good results in the maturing of 

 the ova. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards about the middle of March, 



1910. 



2. As a smolt year 1910 was apparently a good average, but difficult to judge 



as to this owing to the river having been in flood for most part of the 

 migratory period. 



REPORT FROM DON DISTRICT (ABERDEENSHIRE). 



Take of Fish— 



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



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



(c) By rod and line — Much below average. 



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. Grilse first appeared on 15th April ; the chief run was 

 in July. On the whole, the run of grilse was considered to be a fair 

 average. 



2. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 37 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are :— At Nether Don fishings, 



in the sea near the river's mouth, on 18th August. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £3381 0s. 9d. 



2. The assessment levied was 18 per cent, thereon — £608 lis. 9d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 16 in number, including inspector — 3 for 



whole year, 6 for nine months, and 7 for five months. 



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



12 prosecutions for breaches of the Salmon Fisheries Acts, implicating 

 16 men, one man being three times prosecuted : — Three cases, implicating 



