34° The Scottish Naturalist. 



more favoured rival. Another cause of the increase of these 

 trout is that they run up the rivers in September and October, 

 when it is illegal to take them, whereas before the salmon acts 

 they were kept under by netting. In order to restrict the 

 increase of the trout, and if possible restore the salmon to the 

 Coquet, the Home Secretary has given the Duke of North- 

 umberland and the Board of Conservators permission to catch 

 the bull-trout when they are running up the river in Sep- 

 tember, October, November, and December. From statistics 

 given by Mr Buckland, it appears that since the time of fishing 

 was thus extended, during the four years, commencing in 1868, 

 no less than over 131 tons of trout have been killed. While 

 during the same period only 114 salmon and grilse were caught; 

 the number of trout was 71,808. The complaints as to the 

 excessive increase in late years of the so-called bull-trout in the 

 Tweed and other rivers — with the constant result, decrease in 

 the number of salmon — would require to be attended to before 

 it is too late. Experience shows that when salmon are fairly 

 out of a river it is not an easy matter to restore them.' The 

 rather serious reports as to the state of these rivers should 

 induce those who have the opportunity, and feel interested in 

 maintaining the prosperity of the salmon rivers on the east 

 coast of Scotland, to look closely to their condition, as they 

 are all fished with nets through which an undue proportion of 

 trout can pass, and it might be found afterward to be rather 

 short-sighted policy to conclude that because comparatively few 

 trout are caught at present they are not numerous in the water. 

 It must be confessed, however, that the prospect in this respect 

 is not very assuring. In looking at recent events one is almost 

 tempted to think that a more unfavourable proceeding for the 

 prosperity of the salmon could scarcely have been adopted than 

 that lately pursued in the Tweed and Allan water in prosecuting 

 anglers for killing " yellow fins," seeing these are the young of 

 the very trout, the increasing numbers 'of which, we are told, is 

 causing such sad destruction amongst the salmon in all rivers 

 wherever they are allowed to become numerous. It would 

 certainly be better for the public, and the well-being of the 

 salmon, at any-rate, had the law rather permitted encouragement 

 to be given to anglers to catch as many as possible of these 

 young trout, as they are more easily taken at this stage than 

 after they are larger, and, as already observed, the present 

 system of netting is insufficient for the purpose. Irrespective 



