132 ABSTRACT OF EVIDENCE 



ations arise from the want of protection to the 

 breeding fish ; to the fishing all the year over ; at- 

 tributes the decrease solely to those causes ; spawn- 

 ing beds are in fords in running water generally ; 

 thinks gilse a different species from salmon at 

 ten pounds' weight ; when full of spawn they are 

 full grown ; thinks they get their full size in 16 or 

 17 months ; young salmon are four, five f and six 

 pounds at a year old, when they return to the 

 rivers. 



John Halliday. — Has been engaged in the sal- 

 mon fishery forty years, as well in Ireland as in 

 Scotland ; salmon spawn in running streams in 

 fine sand ; don't spawn all at the same time ; full 

 of spawn by October, and from thence even to 

 January ; this is the general case with all rivers ; 

 they begin to ascend the rivers in August to 

 spawn ; many in the spring and summer months ; 

 salmon fall off after being in the fresh water 5 get 



NOTES. 



Mr, John Halliday, — After confirming every thing which 

 the other witnesses and myself have said in all material 

 points, he adds, that he thinks the same close time should ex- 

 tend to all rivers in Scotland and England, — (I am indebted 

 also to Mr. Halliday,) — and that close time should extend 

 to the latter end of March or the beginning of April, and 

 should not continue longer than the 1 Oth of September ; very 

 advantageous if the kelts were allowed to return to the sea. 

 He thinks that the cruives prevent the mother fish from going 

 np to breed; and reprobates the mill-dyke without an escape. 



