of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



17 



4. Particulars as to prosecutions instituted are briefly as follows : — Since 

 Last report 33 cases have been tried in the Sheriff Court (29 in Perth, 

 2 in Cupar-Fife, and 2 in Forfar), involving 46 persons. The offences 

 consisted of — eleeking, 4 ; possession of foul fish, 4 ; possession in close 

 time, 6; possession of cleek with intent to take salmon, 5; stoning, &c, 1 ; 

 sniggering, 2 ; rake hooks, 2 ; fishing without leave of the proprietor, 

 2 ; salmon roe in possession, 4 ; breach of weekly close time, 2 : 

 fishing with small-mesh net, 1. Of the 46 persons involved, 40 were 

 convicted, 4 not proven, and 2 withdrawn. Fines ranging from 2s. to 

 £3 13s. were imposed. The total fines imposed amounted to £65 12s., 

 being an average of £1 12s. 9d. for each of the 40 persons convicted. 

 Fines were paid by 16, 12 were imprisoned, ] was admonished, and 11 

 have yet to be dealt with. The alternatives ranged from 1 to 20 

 days. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. D im dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — No change since last report. 



2. With regard to the observance of bye-laws : — No change since last report. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect :— Since last report the Falls of Garry at 



Struan have been opened up for the passage of salmon. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with are : — Falls of Tummell and Falls 



of Keith. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage of Perth and villages in district, 



bleaching works, &c, and several distilleries. 

 1. Remedial measures : — Filter works at Blairgowrie and settling ponds 



at Aberfeldy Distillery. The whole subject of pollution in the district 



is at present engaging the attention of the Board. 



The Salmon Disease— 



1. Disease made its appearance this year in the month of January, and 



reached its height in November or December. 

 The river was never free of diseased fish in 1906. 



2. The number of diseased fish taken from the river and destroyed was as 



follows : — 





Males. 



Females. 



Kelts, .... 



About 600 



About 500 



Clean, .... 



About 20 altogether. 



The Spawning Season— 



1 . Fish were first noticed spawning on 28th October. 



2. The greatest number spawned during November and December. 



3. Spawning ceased about the middle of January. 



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



spawning season is regarded as fairly satisfactory. The number of 

 spawning fish was a good average, but the river ran rather high for 

 successful spawning. Fortunately, however, there was no disturbance 

 of spawning beds by ice, and that was a set-off to the rather excessive 

 flooding. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in April. 



2. As a smolt year 1906 showed a long-continued migration, but there was 



not any large run at any time. The number seemed to be below the 

 average, and decidedly less than in 1905. 



