of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



273 



3. Particulars as to the times salmon, grilse, and sea trout appeared are as 



follow :— The first run of salmon took place on 12th January, the second 

 on 9th February, and the third on 17th February. The first sea trout 

 was killed on 28th April. The first grilse was taken in the nets on 30th 

 May. The tacksman remarked upon the few grilse taken in proportion 

 to the number of salmon. The principal run of salmon was in the end 

 of October ; before that it was impossible for them to ascend owing to 

 the low state of the river. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 27^ lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — It was captured about 



nine miles from the sea with minnow. The capture took place towards 

 the close of the season. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1911 was £499. 



2. The assessment levied was £224 lis. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are two in number. During a part of the 



season an additional bailiff is employed in the lower reaches. 



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



were convicted of poaching and fined. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — The bye-laws generally are 



observed. The sluices at the intake of the lade at Datch Mills have 

 now been repaired and made watertight, and a bye- wash sluice provided 

 in the lade immediately above the water-wheel. 



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



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



The Salmon Disease— 



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



during August and September. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed cannot be 



definitely ascertained, but they would amount to about the average. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in the beginning of November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased in middle 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 the end of April. 



2. As a smolt year 1911 was exceptionally good. 



REPORT FROM GIRVAN DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish- 



2. The actual number of fish caught has been as follows : — 



(a) By fixed engine— About 900 salmon, 650 grilse, and 550 sea trout 



(reported by lessees), 

 (c) By rod and line — 45 salmon and 195 sea trout, so far as records 



were kept. 



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



First salmon caught, 11th March, 1911, 10 lb. ; first sea trout, 5th April, 

 1911, 2 lb. ; first grilse, 5th June, 1911, 4| lb. — all in sea nets. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon reported as taken during the season was 



24^ lbs. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are ; — In sea net, July 1911. 



