BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, 127 



Thomas Proudfoot, fisherman on the Tay. — 

 Attributes the decrease to the stake nets, the vio- 

 lation of the close time, and the 'want of a new law ; 

 thinks fish return to the river where bred ; recom- 

 mends guarding the close time better ; reprobates 

 angling. 



James Bell a«;ain examined. — Some fish are 

 more forward in roe than others. 



William Bell again examined. — Says it is a 

 mystery where salmon winter; thinks they come 

 from the north. 



John Johnson, fisherman. — Acquainted with 

 the rivers of Scotland and Ireland ; salmon gene- 



NOTES. 



Mr. Thomas Proudfoot recommends guarding the close 

 time better ; he generally confirms what the others say as 

 to the main points. 



Mr. John Johnson does not think they spawn early 

 in the season, and I believe he is right. Some may 

 spawn earlier than others ; the fry are chiefly animated 

 in March. — If this gentleman's estimate of the number of 

 pea in a salmon roe be correct, I must have been grossly 

 imposed upon. It must, however, be recollected, that this 

 calculation was made on a Scotch salmon, mine was on 

 South Hammer. Perhaps the rivers in Scotland may be as 

 poor as the earth is barren and unfruitful, so that the 

 inhabitants of the water, like those of the land, can be 

 just preserved from actual starvation ; and such waters 

 are not favourable to fecundation. This, however, is 



