124 ABSTRACT OF EVIDENCE 



mill-sluices, and with different engines. He repro- 

 bates angling in April and May ; in these months 

 fry go to the sea, and return again in June and July 

 from three to four and five pounds' weight, then 

 called gilse ; they appear like gilse when one pound, 

 and have no other name than those of fry and gilse ; 

 no destruction before the spawn comes to life ; 

 destruction in close time is much increased of late 

 years ; many fish are unwholesome besides those 

 caught in close time ; cannot suggest any im- 

 provement in the mode of fishing ; thinks the close 



NOTES. 



who ever have inherited it as their patrimonial right, 

 secured by statute, and forming part of the laws of England. 

 The rigour of the game laws should rather be diminished 

 than increased. He thinks the close time should com- 

 mence on the 10th of April; this would certainly be an 

 improvement, the fish being then large in roe (of which I 

 have had two instances this last week, 12th September), yet 

 the fish were very good : whether the defence should com- 

 mence so soon must be determined by the wisdom of parlia- 

 ment; but the rivers should certainly not open until the 1st 

 April. " That the same close time should apply to all rivers" 

 I heartily agree with him, for the reasons which I have 

 before assigned, and I now feel confident that I am right. 

 He also confirms my idea of the propriety of seizing poachers 

 by the sides of rivers ; but as this witness approves of the 

 cruive, and asserts that its removal would not allow more 

 fish to go up, I should rather suspect that he is J;he owner 

 or occupier of one. 



