o/ the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



55 



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

 The first run of spring fish took place on 11th December, 1908. The 

 first run of sea trout took place during the first week in April. The main 

 runs of grilse took place towards the end of July. The main runs of 

 salmon took place in July, August, and October. During September 

 the river was very low. The first spring fish was killed on 13th March. 

 4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 26^ lbs. 



The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Caught on the Mount 

 Charles stretch, about one mile from the sea. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £511 sterling. 



2. The assessment levied was £229 19s. 



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



season an extra bailiff was employed to assist in the watching of the river 

 where it enters the sea. . There it crosses a long gravelly bar, and when 

 going over this the fish are easily captured. 

 1. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as folloAv : — One man 

 paid a sum to avoid a prosecution for using set-lines. Two men were 

 convicted and fined for a similar offence. Two men were convicted and 

 fined for a similar offence. Two men were convicted and fined for a 

 similar offence. Three men were convicted and fined for salmon poaching 

 at the mouth of the river. One man was convicted and fined for salmon 

 poaching by rod and line. Two men paid a sum to avoid a prosecution 

 for salmon poaching by rod and line. One man was convicted and fined 

 for a similar offence. Four men were convicted and fined for salmon 

 poaching by means of a net. 



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 are generally 



observed. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — None. 

 Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — The blanket mill at Skeldon has been shut 

 down for some time, and during the season there was no pollution. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Slight disease made its appearance in the month of January, and reached 

 its height during that month. 

 The river was free of diseased fish early in February. 



- The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning in the first week in November. 



2. The greatest number spawned during the month of November. 



3. Spawning ceased early in January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as beyond the average. There was a very 

 large number of breeding fish in the river. 



Smolts— 



2. As a smolt year 1909 was good. 



REPORT FROM GIRVAN DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



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

 previous years — 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea- -Owing to the fact that the fishings 

 in this district have shown results for the season far beyond 

 the usual, tacksmen cannot be induced to give any figures, 

 but it may be taken that at least four or five times last year's 

 numbers of salmon and grilse were captured. Last year's figures 

 were 720 salmon and 880 grilse. 



