22 



Appendices U Thirteenth Annual Report 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 

 No dams or dykes in the Dee. 



The Salmon Disease — 



1. Not to a very great extent ; appeared first about middle of November ; 



river became flooded at end of year, and disease disappeared. 



2. Low, till flooding, referred to in last answer. 



3. November, 32, December, 297 — mostly male fish and spent kelts ; no clean 



fish. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. 15th of October. 



2. Between 15th of October and end of December. 



3. Practically about 1st of February. 



4. Average winter level. 



5. Average. 



6. In the river about Aboyne and Ballater, and in tributaries of Gairn, 



Clunie, and Feugh. 



Kelts— 



1. 1st of December. 



2. April and May. 



3. Probably never quite free, but freest in July. 



4. Average level. 



S molts — 



1. Smolts first observed in quantity about 1st of April. 



2. Yes. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 



Two hatcheries which are carried on by Dee and Don Boards jointly — £>ne 

 at Fish Street in Aberdeen, can receive 15,000 to 20,000 ova ; the other 

 at Drum, about 11 miles from Aberdeen, can receive 1,000,000. Both 

 stocked every year, and results are satisfactory. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 

 The male fish are believed to be about twice as numerous as female fish, but 

 this is only an estimate and not based on actual enumeration which 

 could not be done. 



Fluctuations in the River Level — 

 No standard gauge,, but general terms. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER DON. 

 Take of Fish— 



1. (a), (6), (c), and (d) Below the average in all ; but best with fixed engines 

 to the south of the river mouth. 



3. (a) 11th of February ; (b) in the beginning of August ; (c) first grilse got 



on the first day of May. 



4. (a) and (b) The run of salmon is not becoming earlier in the Don ,; but no 



monthly percentage can be given. 



5. (a) 28 lbs. in river ; (6) 45 lbs. ; (c) 42 lbs. 



Protection — 



1. £3963. 



2. .£792, 14s., or 20 per cent. 



3. Sixteen. 



4. Ten prosecutions, chiefly for being found on the river banks with poach- 



ing implements in their possession, and for having unseasonable fish in 

 their keeping. All convicted and fined from £1 to £5, or so many days' 

 imprisonment and nearly all went to prison. 



