of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



23 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish — 

 3. Yes. 



5. Passes are sufficient when plenty of water, but when mijls are in operation 

 so much water is withdrawn from them that they become dry when 

 water is low, and thus become a serious obstruction. 



Pollutions — 



1. As the portion of the town of Aberdeen called Woodside increases i» size, 



the sewarage therefrom tends to increase the pollution. 



2. Pollution has occupied the attention of the District Board a good, deal, 



but, as yet, no active measures to cure the evil taken in 1894. The 

 obstacles are the expense and the non-co-operation of other bodies. 

 Negotiations are passing with County Council and city of Aberdeen as 

 to proposed system of pollution drainage. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease has practically been non-existent in 1894— only 4 fish seen having 

 any symptoms of disease. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. 4th of October. 



2. Between 17 th and 25th of December. 



3. Practically about the end of January. 



4. Unusually low for winter. 



5. Less than usual. 



6. Spawning beds mostly in the river itself, and the best spawning places are 



at Alford, Kildrummy, and Strathdon. 



Kelts— 



1. About 15th of December. 



2. April and May. 



3. Probably never quite free, but most so in July. 



4. Generally low. 



Smolts — 



1. Smolts first observed in quantity middle of April. 



2. Extra good. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 

 Two hatcheries carried on by Don and Dee Boards jointly : one at Fish 

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

 about 11 miles up Deeside, can receive 1,000,000. Both stocked every 

 year, and ova for this purpose got chiefly from the Don. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 

 Male fish are believed largely to predominate, but no reliable data. 



Fluctuations in the River Level — 

 Not by any standard gauge, but by general terms. 



THE DISTRICT OF THE RIVER YTHAN. 



Take of Fish— 



1. (a), (6), (c) and (d) Below the average. 



2. (a) and (b) The lessees refuse to supply particulars ; (c) About 100. 



3. (a) 26th of February ; (c) August. 



4. The lessees will not furnish these statistics. 



5. (a) Sea-trout, 12| lbs. ; (&) Salmon, 38 lbs. ; (c) Salmon, 25 lbs 



Protection — 



1. £1003, 16s. 8d. 



2. £142, 13s. 8d., being -142,138 or 2s. lOd. fflfo per £. 



3. One all the year round, and four additional from November to March. 



