of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
29 
The Esk (Mid-Lothian) Angling Improvement Association, which Esk (Mi<l- 
though it has existed for only four years, has already done so much to 
rescue an almost ruined river and turn it into a productive trouting stream, improvemeufc 
presents a satisfactory Report for last year. The following extracts will Association, 
be found interesting : — 
Statistics of Fish taken. — The following table of fish captured during the past 
angling season has been compiled from the water-bailiff's book. It is proper to 
state that the figures given in the table are under the mark, the water-bailiff not 
having been always able to obtain the particulars of every basket. 
Table. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
February (from "| 
11th, Opening > 
Date), . . J 
March, 
April, 
May, . 
June, . 
July, . 
August, 
September, 
October, 
Fish. 
39 
34 
137 
37 
9 
1 
63 
184 
158 
Weight. 
281 
26 
117 
31 
5 ! 
36| 
103J 
11$} 
Fish. 
240 
153 
80 
70 
85 
56 
143 
568 
217 
Weight. 
151} 
85J 
35J 
29J 
32 
23 
59 
375 
125 
Fish. 
80 
79 
350 
33 
15 
555 
814 
224 
112 
Weight. 
46 
511 
238-| 
181 
207 
303 
861 
5l| 
Fish. 
183 
207 
159 
56 
15 
29 
606 
175 
404 
Weight. 
112 
1181 - 
83 
25 
n 
13 
337| 
97 
232J 
Approximate Totals, 
662 
465 lbs. 
1612 
916 lbs. 
2262 
1011 lbs. 
1834 
1026jlbs. 
Average Weight, 
11J oz. 
9 oz. 
7J oz. 
9 oz. 
The average weight of each fish for 1889 is a fraction less than 9 oz. 
A number of fish have been taken during the season from 1 lb. to 1^ lbs. 
The largest fish taken during year the was a yellow trout of 2 lbs. Several 
heavy sea trout, estimated at from 3 to 4 lbs. weights, were played and lost. 
Stocking. — Since 1885, when the Association was formed, there have been 
placed in the Esk (directly or indirectly through the Association) over 41,000 
young fish. These young fish consisted of Loch Lev en, Common, American 
Brook Trout, and young salmon from the Tay and the Dumfriesshire Esk. A 
statement, detailing the yearly stocking operations of the Association since its 
institution, is given as an Appeudix to the present report. Included in the 
above is a lot of 3000 young Loch Levens, which were got from Howietoun 
Fishery towards end of January in the eyed-ova state. These were all hatched 
out in the tanks in the water-bailiff's house, with fractional loss, by the 6th of 
February. Under careful attention they throve well, and, towards the end of 
May, 2000 were placed in Smeaton Pond, and the remainder in the small rill 
that enters the Esk above the Inveresk Weir 
It may be mentioned that the Forth Fishery Board, through their Superin- 
tendent, Mr Joseph Napier, has, during the current month, most kindly presented 
the Association with some 11,000 Forth salmon ova, for distribution in the Esk 
and tributaries. These eggs are now being incubated in the Association's 
Hatching Tanks, under the water-bailiff's careful management. 
Large shoals of sea-trout have been seen by the water-bailiff at the mouth of 
the river at intervals during the season. In the back end, some very large fish 
were noticed taking the fish pass — estimated to be as heavy as 20 lbs. More fish 
than usual have been noticed playing in the upper beat, which is purely fresh 
water, but the Tidal Beat still holds its own for number and size of fish. The 
yellow trout and Loch Levens are pretty well found throughout both beats, and, 
when the water is heavy, these seem to drop down into the tidal part of the 
river. 
