2 2 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



increase the numbers of salmon so as to benefit the 

 upper proprietors. Not that I, in anywise, think it 

 in the power of man to convert a late river into an 

 early one ; in other words, to induce the fish, by any 

 artificial means, to run into fresh water one day 

 earlier than has been their usual habit. It is 

 asserted that the River Usk has become an earlier 

 river than formerly, that salmon spawn earlier than 

 they did before they were well looked after, and that 

 there are more fish captured earlier in the spring in 

 consequence. Strict preservation in that river has 

 undoubtedly been the means of increasing the 

 number of both spawning fish as well as spring fish ; 

 but the question is, Do clean fish run up earlier in 

 the spring than they did ? Before it can be certain 

 that the Usk is an earlier river than it was, some 

 better proof is wanted to show that there is an 

 increased supply of fish in the months of February 

 and March. I am, however, informed by an old 

 angler, who has fished the Usk for the last twenty 

 years, that, although the fish are more numerous, 



