of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



255 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1910 was £3503 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was 16 per cent, on rental, yielding £560 lis. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 16 in number, including inspector — 8 of 



these employed for five months of the year, 5 for nine months, and 3 for 

 whole year. 



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



prosecutions, implicating 21 individuals. Three of these, implicating 7 

 persons, were for fishing during annual close time ; 3, implicating 5 persons, 

 were for having unseasonable salmon in possession ; 2, implicating 2 

 persons, were for fishing without permission from proprietors ; 1, 

 implicating 3 persons, for trespassing on the banks of the river with 

 intent, and being at same time in possession of a "gaff"; 1, also 

 implicating 3 persons, for being on ground adjacent to the river intend- 

 ing to fish ; 1, implicating 1 person, for fishing with a net of illegal mesh. 

 All were convicted on evidence. Fines ranged from 10s. to £5, with 

 expenses, and, failing payment, terms of imprisonment ranging from 14 

 to 60 days. Only 1 man paid fine and expenses. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — No new dam dykes built, and 



none of the old dykes have been disused. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Practically so — no particular 



cause for complaint. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — Considerable alterations for the better 



are in prospect on passes both at Maggiemoss and Stoneywood Paper 

 Works. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — Practically no natural obstruc- 



tions exist either in the river or tributaries. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage from Bucksburn, Bankhead, and 



Stoneywood, at each of which a considerable population is located, and 

 likely to increase. Also mill refuse from paper mills and manufactories 

 in lower portion of river. 



2. Remedial measures : — Some of the manufactories, it is understood, adopted 



remedial measures with a view to lessening the pollution, and Messrs. 

 J. & J. Crombie, Grandhome, have constructed works whereby the 

 refuse from their mills is now carried into the town sewers. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



its height in end of January. 

 The river was free of diseased fish or practically so about end of February. 



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



follows : — 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, 160 100 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 3rd November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in middle of December. 



3. Spawning ceased practically at end of January. 



4. Number of breeding fish observed was much above the average. During 



the breeding season the river was in a suitable condition, and on the 

 whole the spawning season is regarded as having been exceptionally good. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in latter end of March. 



2. As a smolt year 1910 was slightly beyond an average. 



REPORT FROM YTHAN DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



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



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

 (c) By rod and line — Below average. 



