THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 19 



alteration in the close time being made on all rivers 

 frequented by early running salmon, at all events 

 where the annual close time commences after the ist 

 of September. The same results would probably 

 be attained in all cases, and therefore proprietors of 

 net fisheries would be amply compensated for any 

 loss sustained by their having to leave off fishing 

 earlier than usual. For there would certainly be 

 more gravid fish left to breed, and thus the stock 

 would be increased during the early part of the 

 season, when the fish are not only in their best con- 

 dition, but fetch the highest price. 



The question, however, of the annual as well as 

 the weekly close time has, as long as I remember, 

 been a source of ill-feeling, causing endless disputes 

 between the upper proprietors of fisheries and those 

 above estuaries and tideways. In rivers having a 

 long course, where the nets are not used above 

 the tideway, the present law answers the purpose 

 for which it was intended, and the fish have a free 

 run to the upper waters during the weekly close 



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