oj the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



57 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £400. 



2. The assessment levied was £15. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 2 in number. 



The Spawning Season— 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 20th November. 



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



spawning season is regarded as good. 



Smolts — 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards about 15th May. 



2. As a smolt year 1909 was about an average season. 



REPORT FROM CREE 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 — Much worse than last year. 



(b) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters — Much worse than last year. 



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



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



(a) By fixed engine j N k 



(o) By sweep net ) 



(c) By rod and line — 161. 



3. Expressed as percentages for each month of the season, so as to show the 



times of greatest run, the figures are, from April onwards : — By rod 

 and line, 14, 2£, 10£, 25, 24, 24. 

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

 Grilse and sea trout did not appear till July in season 1909, as June was 

 abnormally dry. 



4. Fish from this river by rod and line average 9 lbs. There was no specially 



heavy fish taken in 1909. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1909 was £862 10s. 



2. The assessment levied was 9^d. per £, or £34 2s. lOd. 



3. The water bailiff's employed are 3 in number all the year round and four in 



June, July, August, and September. 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted — None. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect. — None. There is still the 



obstruction reported previously, and referred to last year, of water for 

 timber merchant's mill at Minnigaff from the dam dyke on Penkiln Burn. 



2. Are the bye-laws observed in every case ? — Regular. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect — None. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are: — On High Cree, on Bargrennan 



Lynn, and on Minnoch (tributary of Cree) at Glencaird Lynn. 



The Salmon Disease- 

 Salmon disease proper was not experienced in 1909. 



The Spawning Season- 



1. Fish were first noticed spawning on 7th October. 



2. The greatest number spawned during October and first week of November. 



3. Spawning ceased 15th November or thereabouts. 



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



of breeding fish was well above the average. Severe Hooding in mid 

 October would militate against successful results ; still 1909 may be 

 regarded as a good spawning season. 



