of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



33 



4. No particularly heavy fish reported, but a number caught weighing from 

 35 to 40 lbs. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £3403. 



2. The assessment levied was £306 5s. 4d. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 8 in number during the close season, and 



generally 3 during the fishing season. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — Five cases, 



implicating nine persons. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



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



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



river. 



4. No natural obstructions in the river. 

 Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are mostly from town and farm sewage and mills of 

 Brechin. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year about the middle of November, 



1908, and reached its height in January, 1909. 

 The river was free of diseased fish about the end of June. 



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



was 529. Thirty-six clean fish, all more or less diseased, were removed 

 from the river and destroyed. The clean fish were all got in the dams 

 about Brechin during March, April, and May, 1909. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning during the first week of November, 1908. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December. 



3. Spawning ceased about the end of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as very good. 



Smolts- 



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



2. As a smolt year 1909 was very good. 



REPORT FROM NORTH ESK 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 — Above average. 



(6) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters —Above average. 



(c) By rod and line — Very much below average. 



2. The actual number of fish caught has been : — By rod and line, from 31st 



August, when net fishing closed, to 30th October, when rod fishing also 

 closed, 139 salmon and 37 grilse, total 176, as recorded by bailiffs. No 

 statistics as to fish caught otherwise. 



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



The first grilse was got in the sea on 8th and in the river on 14th May. 

 Sea trout were plentiful in both the sea and river early in May. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season by rod and line 



was 38 lbs. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — October, Craigo. A 

 good many of the fish caught were over 30 lbs. 



Protection— 



1 . The assessable rental for 1909 was £6614. 



2. The assessment levied was 6 per cent. 



