of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



25 



REPORT FROM SOUTH ESK DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



1 . As compared with the average results of previous years, the take of fish 



generally throughout the district has been about an average. 

 More particularly it has been during the spring above the average ; 

 during the autumn, below the average, owing to the low state of the 

 river. 



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



(a) By fixed engine j Nq means of obtaining information as to 



(c) By rodTnd line J number of fish cau S ht ' 



Particulars as to the times grilse and sea trout appeared are as 

 follow : — On 16th February first clean fish taken. Main run of grilse 

 and sea trout, June and July. Main run of salmon, July and August. 

 4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken by net during the season was 

 52 lbs., on the Usan fishings, south of the river mouth, and by rod 

 and line 37 lbs., on the Kinnaird fishings. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture : — No information. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1907 was £3351. 



2. The assessment levied was £335 2s. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 8 in number during the annual close time, 



and generally 3 during the fishing season. 



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



cases of prosecutions, implicating 10 persons, mostly all for using drag 

 hooks or gaffs, or being in possession of unclean salmon. All were 

 convicted except two, the case against them being found not proven. 

 Fines ranged from 5s. to £3 and expenses. The alternatives ranged 

 from five to twenty-one days. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — No change. 



2. With regard to the observance of bye-laws : — No particular cause for 



complaint. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — Fish passes on most of dam dykes on 



river. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — No natural obstructions on 



the river. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are mostly from the town and mills of Brechin. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. The river was almost entirely free from disease during the winter of 



1906-1907. During the month of September, 1907, a number of fish 

 were more or less diseased. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was 261. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning about 25th October 1906, when grilse 



and sea trout were seen spawning on the lower end of the Prosen. 



2. The greatest number spawned during the last fortnight of November and 



first fortnight of December. 



3. Spawning ceased by the end of January. 



4. As regards numbers of breeding fish, the past spawning season is 



regarded as above the average. 

 The state of the river was half spate during most of the spawning season. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards during the last week of 



March, 1907, and continued up to the end of June. 



2. As a smolt year 1907 was good. 



