Monday 28th April : In the office most of the day, proof-reading the Biennial report being the main item of work. After tea out to check the smolt traps - I'm on duty this week, so was working over the weekend as well. About 100 smolts, about three-quarters Salmon, rest Sea-trout at Tinnis but at Peebles, the key broke in one of the padlocks, so had to leave without checking it.

Tuesday 29th April : Finished proof-reading the Biennial Review. Worked up the notes I took last week for the meeting of the North Sea Sea-trout group to make a record. I now have to draft some actual work packages, which will be largely based on those already formulated for the Celtic Sea-trout programme. Out to the traps after tea, with Barry as anticipated a good number in the traps. At Peebles there had been a sudden snow fall, and the trap was surrounded with slush, with the water rising, but only a few fish. At Tinnis, however, over a 100 smolts, mainly Salmon, so glad of the help.

Wednesday 30th April: Out to the traps at 08.00am this time, but nothing at Peebles and only a half dozen at Tinnis. Rest of the day in the office entering in the data from the traps & some final proof reading for the Review.

Thursday 1st May: Out early to do the traps, nothing in either. Seem to have come to juddering halt. Had over 100 at Tinnis just two days ago - the high water levels are probably pushing more than usual past the intake, will see what happens. This year the smolts started two weeks later than in 2006 and one week later than in 2007, so there is quite a bit of variability. They should go on till the middle of May however - though the good water levels might be taking them away more quickly than usual. Always good to have some big, dirty, spates at this time of year, to get the smolts down to the sea quickly and safely, with minimum opportunity for birds to get at them. Not so good for anglers though. In the office for the rest of the day, though not on the work I had planned. Instead, had to spend the afternoon combatting some more Beaver hype & puffery.

Friday 2nd May: Out early to check the traps, nothing again. Should go on till mid May but perhaps all swept away early. Monthly meeting with RTC Bailiffs, the big subject being the new Health and Safety Policy and its supporting documents on risk assessments and mitigations. The bailiffs also issued with maps of all the still waters in their respective areas and their stocking histories to help them check on whether the new consents for stockings procedures are being carried out everywhere they should be. Rest of the day largely spend on preparing a talk on the uses of historic, long-term catch and other records in fisheries management to give to the Society for the History of Natural History in Edinburgh in a couple of weeks time.