SALMONS. 237 



of Salmon are thus destroyed, especially in the 

 secluded mountain streams ; detection is difficult, 

 and conviction easily evaded. The depredations 

 of poachers are largely connected with the demo- 

 ralization of private distilling. The men are up 

 all night attending to the still. The watch main- 

 tained against the revenue officers enables them 

 to ascertain also when the rivers are unguarded. 

 The firebrand is snatched from the still-fire, the 

 easily -hidden gaff or spear drawn from its corner, 

 and in a few minutes the poacher has exchanged 

 one species of lawless industry for another equally 

 illicit. 



Mr. Lloyd describes a simple but effective mode 

 of taking Salmon at Deje, in Sweden, where this 

 fish is very abundant. By rocks or artificial em- 

 bankments, a portion of the river is divided into 

 several small channels. On each of these tAvo 

 sluices are constructed, one at each end, capable 

 of being opened or closed at pleasure. The fish 

 having once entei'^d these traps, are prevented 

 from returning, and the water being allowed to 

 run off, they are taken out, even by hand, without 

 the least difficulty. Five hundred, and even eight 

 hundred Salmon are thus taken in a single day ; 

 though at the same locality, notwithstanding their 

 abundance, they invariably refuse a bait.* 



Many years ago, great quantities of Salmon 

 were taken in the Thames; but that species of 

 sport has been annihilated, in all probability by 

 the influx of poisonous ingredients which flow in 

 from gas-works and other numerous modern in- 

 novations, introduced during the last fifteen years. 



Among the enemies of the Salmon is the Eagle, 

 * Field Sports, &c. i. 302. 



