The Salmon 143 



ruining some of our West Coast rivers which used to swarm with 

 salmon, but whose yield at the present time is almost nil. The fish 

 run up these small rivers from the sea in time of flood ; but when the 

 flood subsides there is not enough water to protect them, conse- 

 quently they are forced to return to the sea again, and are captured 

 by the stake-nets, so that few are left to ascend the river and main- 

 tain a sufficient stock. Wherever, too, stake or bag nets have been 

 removed the stock of fish has increased. At present these nets are 

 allowed to be used far too near the mouths of rivers. In my opinion 

 they ought to be at least two miles away. 



Some people maintain that they catch many fish that would not 

 enter a river the same season, but most of the fish that come to our 

 coasts are steering their course to some river. I do not think more 

 than three per cent of the salmon thus caught would remain in the 

 sea. Even if many of them did remain, it is no argument in favour of 

 catching them in the sea, because the nets would be taking immature 

 fish, which by another year might be three times the weight. Again, 

 during their sojourn in the sea their food costs nothing. I think, then, 

 the number of stake-nets in the sea should be greatly lessened. 

 Riparian proprietors spend a great deal of money in providing for the 

 welfare of the salmon in their rivers. Yet we find fish so reared are 

 caught by others living outside of the river district, and in a whole- 

 sale manner by stake-nets, causing the rivers to become neglected, 

 and the supply of fish to become very limited. So long as plenty 

 of fish are allowed to pass into the rivers, they will be protected 

 whenever they show signs of increase. About thirty years ago 

 many proprietors would say to me that their stretch of river brought 

 them so little return that they were not troubling to look after it. 

 Since then, however, their stretches have risen in value to the extent 

 of 300 or 400 per cent. 



THE SALMON DISEASE 



The salmon disease first made its appearance in the river Eden 

 at Carlisle ; the following year it was noticed in the Tweed ; and the 



