Monday 22nd September: The whole day in the office writing a backround report. Process 18lbs of home-grown plums in the evening, so not an entirely desk-bound day.

Tuesday 23rd September: Finish the report in the morning, then set out to see the flood damage on the Glen and the Breamish. The Glen at Kirknewton is an extraordinary sight, spread widely over the fields with a steep lip where it has stopped cutting down for the present (photo attached), Fish probably could still pass, since there is deep water under this lip from which they could jump and possibly enough depth of water over the fields for them to be able to swim. If water levels fall, however, there could well be a problem. The Breamish at Ingram is not quite such a sight as the new route is still within the old flood plain. It's cut off  nearly a kilometre of the old channel, which no longer has enough water in it to make a continuous surface flow. The new route is not passable by fish as the steep lip over which it falls to rejoin the river has a pile of debris below it and then shallow water, so nothing for the fish to jump from. If there was spate of a foot or so, the old channel would probably be passable but without extra water, it is  a block. More work in the evening finalising the report, then process another 5lbs of plums.

Wednesday 24th September: Draw up a note on the situation at Ingram, then down the river to see the boatman at The Lees to show him how to take tissue samples for genetic analysis and the preservative for them. Collect scale packets at the same time and call in at The Junction, Rutherford and Upper Mertoun to collect their packets as well.

Thursday 25th September: The report I did on the information on Beavers and salmonids and how this has been presented by those wanting to release Beaver into the wild in Scotland went up on the websites today, as  the ASFB press release went out. It is a major issue that could have considerable consequences for Scottish salmonid fisheries, but it just hasn't been taken seriously, it is just being presented as an opportunity to have another nice, fluffy, animal in the countryside. I hope this will change now. The last mammal that was deliberately released into the wild in Britain, just because it was  nice and fluffy, was the Gray Squirrel ! Various bits of admin, then out over lunchtime to collect up scale packets from Boleside and Fairnilee. In the pm. start reading a draft of a paper on the "thin Grilse" of 2006 that I've been sent to read through. Huge sample sizes from the netting stations, going back to the 1960's and some very odd, but statistically significant, connections shown - can't say what, as the paper has yet to be published. Kenny back from electric-fishing as Backpack No. 2 not working, and as no spare (James having taken two with him in case of a breakdown) send him off again with the generator set, which is not ideal for doing many short sites, but need's must.

Friday 26th September: Weekly staff meeting in the morning, then an admin day in the office. Kenny and Steven out electric-fishing - no machine problems, but the vehicle starts making strange noises and they have to come back a bit early.