44 
Appendices to Ninth Annual Report 
was polluted for some days by a discharge from one of the pits of the 
Dalmellington Iron Company, by which about 150 fish were destroyed. 
But this has now been remedied. The ' AVild Birds Protection Act, 1880,' 
is strongly protested against, and its repeal, as regards Scotland, is 
suggested. ' The destruction,' it is stated, * of young fish by wild birds 
* bred on Ailsa Craig is enormous.' 
I have not received any answers to the printed queries from the District 
Boards on the Scottish side of the Solway Firtb. But Mr J. Bell Irving, 
of Mount Annan, has favoured me with the following answers : — 
The take of fish has diminished, chiefly owing to over-netting in the Solway, 
and, in a minor degree, to the absence of water-bailiffs on the upper waters of 
the Annan and its tributaries. Whamniel-nets, which have doubled in num- 
bers in recent years, sweep the whole Solway, in season and out of season, with 
nets nearly half-a-mile in length, and, consequently, they get nearly all the 
salmon making for the Annan, Esk, and Eden.* 
About 80 fish have been killed by rods in the Annan during 1890. The 
heaviest salmon was 47 lbs. 
With regard to the observance of the annual and weekly close times, 
Mr Irving writes as follows : — 
Whammel netters specially defy the law, and continue to fish as long as the 
autumn run of sahnon continues. Appoint a Commissioner to go into the 
whole matter, and let him call on me and I will explain fully. One thing is 
to assimilate the laws governing both sides of the Solway. Alter the Annan 
private Act so as to give bailiffs power to the centre of the channel, instead of, 
as at present, to low-water mark only. Change the quarters of the bailiffs to 
Annan Water-foot, and provide them with another and a smaller boat. 
The period for the commencement and termination of the annual close 
time is stated not to be suitable for the Annan District : — 
Don't allow salmon to be taken by net or rod till the middle of April. They 
only destroy the kelts.' 
Weekly close time for stake-nets should be three clear tides. Only the lower 
portion of the main river is protected by water-bailiffs in uniform — a great draw- 
back. They are members of the County Constabulary, sent and paid by the 
Fishery Board, and are subject to its instructions through the Chief Constable. 
Four are employed permanently by the Annan Board, and one extra for two 
months at close of net-fishing. 
Illegal netting is prevalent in the Annan district by ' whammelers, or drift- 
* net fishers, in the Firth, and by * burning the w^ater ' in the upper waters during 
* the winter, also by poachers from Dumfries, who net in the tributaries and 
' higher waters. There are a few prosecutions for the above offences, but seldom 
' a conviction.' 
The artificial obstructions on the Annan in the shape of dams are: — 
Annan, Newbie, Brydekirk, Murray thwaite, and Dormont. Newbie dam has 
half-a-dozen upright iron stakes in the fish-pass. These were put in to board 
up the pass when the water was low\ Branches and rubbish frequently catch 
on there and completely block the pass. No grating at the entrance to the mill- 
race, only one at the mill-wheels, half a mile below. Byewash at the mill only 
a pipe at much too abrupt an angle, and only open on Sundays. Sluice in the 
mill-race only lowered in time of heavy floods. Many salmon are taken out of 
the mill-race by poachers in the spring months. When they cannot get through 
the pass or over the dam, they go down the mill-race, half a mile in length,'and 
are stopped by the grating at the mill-wheels. Through this grating the fry on 
their way to the sea are sucked, and as they fall on the revolving wheels, a sort 
of massacre of the innocents goes on continually in the spring. 
* The construction and mode of using these very objectionable whammel, or hang 
nets, is fully explained in my second annual Report to the Fishery Board, pages 
94, 95. 
Rivers on 
Scottish side 
of Solway 
Firth- 
Answers by 
Mr J. Bell, 
Irving. 
