24 Appendices to Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



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

 spawning season is regarded as fairly good — number of spawning 

 fish about the average. The river was considerably swollen during 

 the whole of the spawning season. 



Smolts— 



1. Smolts were noticed to be migrating seawards in the end of March. 



2. As a smolt year 1906 was an average one. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon— 



1. The number of ova secured locally during the past season was 85,000. 



2. In securing ova the numbers of male and female fish captured were 



respectively 4 and 5. The ova was placed in the hatching boxes on 

 the premises of the Aberdeen Salmon Company in Fish Street in the 

 end of December 1905, and about 90 per cent, appeared to be suc- 

 cessfully hatched out and were put into the rivers Don and Dee in 

 the first week of June 1906, apparently in a healthy and vigorous 

 condition. 



REPORT FROM YTHAN DISTRICT. 



Take of Fish— 



1. As compared with the average results of previous years, the take of fish 



generally throughout the district has been about the average. 

 More particularly it has been 



(a) By fixed engines in the sea, about the average. 



(b) By sweep net in tidal or fresh waters, above the average. 



(c) By rod and line, salmon below the average, sea trout above. 



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



K By fixed engine j U bl b . h information> 



(6) By sweep net J 



(c) By rod and line, about 120 salmon. 



3. Particulars as to the times, grilse and sea trout appeared are as follows : — 



Sea trout appeared 25th February. 



4. The weight of the heaviest salmon taken during the season was 45 lbs. 

 The particulars of time and place of capture are : — 31st July, in a bag net 



at Newburgh fishings. Heaviest salmon caught by rod and line, 26^ 

 lbs., caught in Esslemont water in October. 



Protection— 



1. The assessable rental for 1906 was £1354. 



2. The assessment levied was £178, being a little over 2s. 7£d. per £. 



3. The water bailiffs employed are 5 in number, and 1 all the year round. 



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



labourer, New Deer, was fined £1 and £1 2s. 6d. of expenses for a 

 contravention of §15 (1) of the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1868, 

 on 1st November 1905. 



Obstructions to the Passage of Fish— 



1. Dam dykes disused, built, or in prospect : — None. 



2. With regard to the observance of bye-laws : — Fairly well observed. 



3. Fish passes built or in prospect : — None. 



4. Natural obstructions not yet dealt with : — None. 



Pollutions— 



1. The existing pollutions are : — Sewage from the burgh of Ellon. 



2. Remedial measures : — This matter is under consideration of the burgh 



commissioners. 



