of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



31 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £3569 8s. 9d. 



2. The assessment levied was 4s. 6d. per £ (£803 2s. 2d.). 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 11 in number, including superintendent. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow: — Nine prose- 



cutions for contraventions of the Salmon Fishing Acts during the year 

 ending 31st December, 1908, implicating 14 men. The cases consisted 

 of taking smolts, putting bag nets in fishing order before the expiry of 

 the weekly close time, and taking salmon during the annual close time. 

 Three men interdicted from drift-net fishing, and one man tried in the 

 Court of Session for breach of interdict and sentenced to 21 days' im- 

 prisonment without the option of a fine. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — No. Hecks at the intakes and 



outlets of the mill lades, on the River Allan, are not kept in proper order. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — One fish pass built on Airthrey Paper 



Mill dam dyke. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Kippenross old cruive. 

 Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage from the towns and villages on the 



banks of the Forth and its tributaries ; chemicals from paper mills, dye- 

 works and distilleries, and coal washings from coal pits. 



2. Remedial measures — Steps are being taken to mitigate the pollutions 



above mentioned. 



The Salmon Disease— 



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



its height in January, 1909. 

 The river was free of diseased fish in April, 1909. 



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



follows :— 284, being 341 less than for 1907-1908. 



Males. Females. 

 Kelts, - - - 244 40 



The Spawning- Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in middle of October (sea trout), 1909. 



2. The greatest number spawned December and January. 



3. Spawning ceased end of January. 



4. JS umber of breeding fish below the average; state of the water high. 

 Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April, May, June, and 



July. 



2. As a smolt year 1909 was about the average. 



REPORT FROM TAY DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish - 



1. State whether the take of fish has been above or below the average of 

 previous years — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea — Average. 



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



(c) By rod and line — Below. 



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



were rather late in making their appearance, but were a fair crop and 

 a much better class of grilse than in the previous year. Sea trout were 

 got from the start of the net fishing, and were above the average in 

 numbers. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 56| lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Estuary of Tay, near 



mouth of Earn, on 27th May, 1909. 



