16 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SALMON. 



and that a place where such an occurrence would 

 be least expected ; how many, then, must be killed 

 in this way of which we never hear ! 



The use of that dreadful instrument the spear 

 should also be abolished by every possible means, 

 and even by measures of extreme severity, par- 

 ticularly in the river Dart, where it is principally 

 employed. Like a deadly pestilence it destroys 

 both bad and good ; every thing dies before it ; 

 whatever the spear touches it kills, if it does not 

 catch. Besides, it is never used by those who have 

 a right to fish, but only by poachers, who would 

 be so much better employed in a lawful and honest 

 calling. This practice is one of the greatest en- 

 couragements to idleness, and all those bad habits 

 which idleness and nocturnal employments create. 

 When men are thus engaged all night, they can- 

 not be very fit for labour by day. Nor is this all, for 

 various other things are found to disappear besides 

 salmon, when these gentlemen are at work. A great 

 injury is also done to young timber; to avoid sus- 

 picion the spear-head is carried in the pocket, and 

 for the shaft a young tree is cut down as soon as 

 the game is seen ; for carrying a spear-pole in the 

 hand might excite observation. Four years ago, 

 a very large spear was in use, but they now use a 

 well tempered small spear, which is found to answer 

 the purpose equally well, and can be better con- 

 cealed. I was once an accidental witness to the 

 fact of a large salmon being struck with a spear 

 in the very act of spawning. It was an appalling 



