88 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



might, with such a recommendation as that, put me on as 

 a river-watcher and give me a free hand !) I have dwelt 

 at some length upon these instances, because I think the 

 bearing upon other facts ought to be realised, whether I 

 have alluded to them already, or whether I may allude to 

 them again later on. 



Returning once more with special reference to sea-trout, 

 we find considerable significance in such paragraphs as the 

 following which I cut out of a local (Aberdeen) paper. The 

 writer says simply : " This fine edible fish (the sea-trout) is 

 steadily on the decrease all along the seaboard of the country. 

 Even in our estuaries, anglers lament the absence of adoles- 

 cent Salmo tnitta of 2 Ibs., 3 Ibs., and even 4 Ibs., which 

 used to adorn their baskets in days gone by." Then, as 

 usual, shying the real cause, or not realising it, the writer 

 goes on to say : " From whatever causes (!) it is a patent fact 

 that salmon trout have been steadily on the decline during 

 the past thirty years." 



Observe : that the following combination of circum- 

 stances a prolonged chain of destruction cannot fail to 

 bring about a worse and more lugubrious wail from kelt- 

 anglers and more legitimate fishermen in the near future 

 unless something be done. Thus, we have the juvenile 

 " finnocks " killed literally by the thousand by tidal anglers 

 in the early spring. No wonder they complain about the 

 scarcity of adolescent sea-trout of from 2 to 3, or even 

 4 Ibs., such as used to " grace their baskets." We have 

 these 2, 3, or 4 Ib. trout being killed at the same time by 

 the stake and bag-nets on the coast : at least nets of fair 

 mesh, as allowed by present laws, take those adolescent 

 sea-trout of the greater weights. Then again, we find that 

 the " baggits," at or near the sources of many of the best 

 rivers, have practically no protection from bands of pro- 

 fessional poachers who harry the water unchecked, who 

 " snatch " fish under the very eyes of the ^watchers 

 often admirably and satirically so called ! And yet again, 

 as soon as fresh run fish reach their spawning grounds, 

 eagle eyes watch for their arrival, and soon account for 

 many. Thus the candle burns at both ends. What can 

 be expected ? Besides, not content with this sliding doivn- 



