50 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



fish in consequence, and he felt sure there were 

 other disadvantages attending the prolongation of 

 the close season to February i. 



The Tay Act of 1858 put back the commencement 

 of the close season to August 26. That alteration 

 gave the fish more time to have a free run ; so 

 in Mr. Dickson's estimation it was an improvement. 

 But to give a still more favourable turn, he wanted 

 the fishing season to be so altered as to allow 

 nets-men to begin nineteen days earlier than 

 usual. 



The General Act of 1862 lengthened the close 

 time by ten days. Mr. Dickson considers this was 

 the reason why the stock of grilse was reduced in 

 number; and he makes the following observation, 

 viz. that during close time there were so many more 

 fish in the river than it could sustain, that they fed 

 upon their own young in consequence. The remedy 

 he considers to be a longer continuance of the 

 net-fishing season, and says that it is a mistake 

 of the legislators to attempt to improve the posi- 



