64 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



tend towards upper proprietors, on whose property 

 quantities of fish are annually born and bred, 

 I may say almost entirely for the benefit of the 

 proprietors of net fisheries below and next to the 

 tideway.^ If lower proprietors would consent to 

 a reasonable extension of the weekly close time, 

 I am quite convinced that they would be no losers ; 

 on the contrary, they would be great gainers 

 in the long run. There would then be so much 

 less need for fresh legislation ; but as long as they 

 hold out for such a monopoly as they at present pos- 

 sess, there will be no remedy for the evil until the 

 law is altered so as permanently to remove the 

 question of close time from the sway of partial in- 

 terests and settle it by independent persons, ready 

 to mete out even justice to all concerned. It may 

 be asked, "Why make such a fuss about close 

 time ? " The simple answer is, and I feel confident 

 that many will agree with me, that it is the key to 

 the situation ; in other words, to the adjustment of 

 * This remark applies equally also to Scotland and Ireland. 



