56 



Appendices to Twenty -eighth Annual Report 



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

 was caught as soon as the nets were out — 26th March. 



(c) By rod and line — The rod and line results also showed improve- 

 ment, over 50 salmon and grilse having been taken instead of 

 the usual 8 or 12. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 28 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — Bargany fishery, south 

 of pier, about 15th July. 



protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £533 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was £28 18s. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 1 in number. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follow : — Two tacks- 



men were prosecuted for failing to observe the weekly close time and 

 were fined, one £7 and £3 expenses, the other £7 and £1 expenses. 



Obstructions to the Passage Fish— 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Some of the mill lades do not 

 conform to the statutory requirements with regard to hecks and sluices, 

 but an effort is being made to have this state of matters remedied. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Polluted water is now flowing from the 

 Dalquharran Pit, which was shut down after the fire. The proprietor of 

 the pit was prevented from pumping out the polluted water and 

 running it into the river, and failed in Court proceedings which he 

 raised to assert his right. The water now escaping to the river is oozing 

 through the ground and overflowing at the old day levels, but it has not 

 yet acquired sufficient volume to be destructive to fish life. There is 

 also objectionable water being pumped from the new Killochan Coal 

 Coy.'s pit. It has been analysed and found to contain deleterious salts 

 of iron and other matters in solution and in suspension, and would be 

 fatal to fish if discharged in sufficient quantity. 



1. Remedial measures : — The Board have had the -matter under consideration, 

 but no measures have yet been resolved upon. 



The Spawning Season - 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning about the end of November. 



2. The greatest number spawned in December so far as observed. 



3. Spawning still going on (15th December). 



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



spa wiring season is regarded as no better than average according to the 

 watchers' reports, though from outside sources it was believed that the 

 stock of fish in the river was much beyond the average. 



Note. — It is admitted by the tacksmen that the season of 1909 has been the 

 best for a period of over 20 years at least. They believe that the fish 

 may have come from the adjoining Doon district, Avhere the nets have 

 been removed for some years back. A suggestion has been made to buy 

 up and remove the sea nets in this district. The matter is now being 

 considered by the Board, and if a difiiculty as to the existing leases can 

 be overcome, some practical result may follow. 



REPORT FROM STINCHAR DISTRICT. 

 Take of Fish— 



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

 previous years — 



(c) By rod and line — Much above the average of previous years. 



3. Grilse and sea trout appeared about the 1st of June. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 28 lbs. 



