244 APPENDIX. 



A weir is first erected, either entirely across the river 

 or such portion as may be fishable, and over this the 

 salmon cannot pass. In this weir are left certain gaps, 

 through which the stream flows : in these gaps are fixed 

 the cruives or traps. The cruives are composed of wooden 

 bars in frames : these are called hecks or haicks. The 

 up-stream face of this cage is simply a vertical row of 

 bars, so close together that they are impassable, save to the 

 smallest grilse. Formerly the Scotch law insisted that they 

 should be set three inches apart, so that any fish under 

 81bs. or lOlbs. in weight could pass through. The old 

 law of England also made fish of 61bs. or Tibs, in many 

 of the rivers undersized fish, which it was illegal to take. 

 The down-stream face of the cruive, through which the 

 salmon must pass first in its upward progress, is made of 

 two frames of bars, which are set so as to slant inwards 

 until they meet ; one of these frames works loosely upon 

 an upright spindle, so that when the salmon presses 

 against it, it opens and lets him through, but closes behind 

 him by the mere pressure of the stream. The ground- 

 plan of this trap will represent a square or rather oblong 

 figure, with a triangle cut out of the lower face or base 

 of it. 



Once in these traps, there is no escape for poor salmon : 

 the landing-net and a knock on the head, with a place on 

 the icehouse floor, are his portion. The traps are visited 

 every morning and evening by men with large landing-nets, 

 with which they are swept, and every fish is lifted out. 

 I have seen from a dozen to thirty fish constantly taken 

 in one of these cages at ordinary seasons, and when there 



