26 
was quite impracticable ; and the School Boards would also 
interfere with the employment of children. 
The Chairman : Do you not think the sheep have been 
rotten before they were put on the marsh ? I don’t think 
good sound sheep sent on to salt marshes would rot. 
Mr. W. Pattinson (Aspatria) : There may also be more 
kinds of rot than one ; and that which the sheep take on the 
marshes may not be the one referred to in Mr. Thompson’s 
paper. 
Mr. Brockbank (Heathfield) : The paper stated that it was 
chiefly in swamp}^ places, where the grass was long, that the 
fluke was produced. I have often observed on land where 
the grass is very short, that rot has been produced. 
Mr. Thompson : Is there any portion of the marsh ever 
covered with fresh water ? 
Mr. Carr : Fresh water comes down sometimes from the 
upper lands, and overflows portions of the marshes. 
Mr. Thompson : Then, that will at once account for the 
production of fluke on the marshes. 
The Chairman : I do not think rot has been found to attack 
sheep on Burgh Marsh. 
Mr. Carr: No; I allude to Skinburness Marsh. I am 
still of opinion that hunger has much to do with causing the 
disease. 
Mr. Thompson : Hunger may produce rot of some kinds,, 
but not the fluke rot. 
