114 THE SALMON. 



causes are irremovable ; while, on the other hand, there 

 are practicable and efficient cures quite independent of 

 the causes. 



One and the chief of irremovable causes is the in- 

 crease of land drainage. Salmon do not incline to 

 enter, nor even though they may have entered to ascend, 

 a river, either when it is in high flood, "roaring from 

 bank to brae," nor when it is dwindled and limpid, but 

 when it is between these two conditions, subsiding, and 

 in some degree clarifying. Now, the effect of increased 

 drainage — by which we refer, not so much to the drains 

 of the arable districts as to the open " sheep drains" of 

 the pastoral districts at the water sources — is to bring 

 down the water more quickly, and in greater volume, 

 and tlien to carry it seaward with greater rapidity ; thus 

 making addition to the two extreme conditions of 

 water in which fish do not incline to travel, and making 

 deduction from that happy medium which is their 

 choice, and which is now, like Lear's wit, " pared o' both 

 sides till little is left in the middle." Taking Scotland 

 generally, the average of the statements as to the de- 

 crease in the period of what is called the "travelling 

 condition" may be taken at one-half; — on the Tweed 

 it has been considerably more. One consequence of 

 this change is, that the fish are kept longer hanging 

 about the mouths of the rivers, where, besides the num- 

 bers taken in the stake and bag nets, they fall a prey 

 to their natural marine enemies ; and also, we would 

 suggest, are likely, after repeated failures in getting up 

 the river, to dwindle and die — in the same way that they 

 are known to do in the converse case of being prevented, 



