APPENDIX A. 



Page 60. — As the law at present stands, the close 

 time is limited in Scotland to 36 hours, viz. from 

 6 p.m. on Saturday to 6 a.m. on Monday. In England 

 to 42 hours, from 12 o'clock noon on Saturday to 

 6 a.m. on Monday (but this time can be extended under 

 certain circumstances to 48 hours). In Ireland to 48 

 hours. I could never understand on what grounds the 

 foregoing close times were so fixed. The climate of 

 Scotland being many degrees colder in winter and early 

 spring than in Ireland, early salmon make much slower 

 progress up Scotch rivers than they do in Irish rivers in 

 consequence, and if the figures had been reversed and 

 Scotland had been given 48 hours, and Ireland 36 hours, 

 there would have been some foundation in reason for the 

 proportion ; but a 36 hours' close time is totally inade- 

 quate to meet the requirements of many Scotch rivers. 

 My remarks do not apply to rivers in which there is no 

 netting above the tideway, but in rivers where nets are so 

 at work a 36 hours' close time is a farce, and should be 

 extended to at least 48 hours, with power under certain 

 circumstances to extend it to 60 hours, provided always 

 that should any extension be granted, no new netting 

 stations should be established above the existing ones. 



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