6o THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



two have a common interest in prolonging the open 

 season for net-fishing to the utmost limit of the law, 

 but are yet at variance with regard to the weekly 

 close time. The tideway nets-men naturally wish 

 the weekly close time to be as short as possible, 

 whilst those above the tideway always hold just 

 the opposite view, and want all the time they can 

 get. At present the law appears to be made ex- 

 pressly for the benefit of the latter, at the expense of 

 both tideway and upper proprietors. It is therefore 

 very evident that it is necessary that there should 

 be an alteration in the law as regards the fixing of 

 the weekly close time, even if in no other respect.'* 

 Boards of Conservators in England are doubtless 

 able, owing to their local knowledge, to form a 

 correct opinion as to what is most suitable to the re- 

 quirements of their respective rivers; but it should 

 not be forgotten that individual members have their 

 own interests at stake, more or less at variance per- 



* See Appendix, in which I have expanded my meaning as to 

 close time. It should be borne in mind that in England, con- 

 servators have power to make alterations in close times, subject 

 to approval by the Board of Trade. 



