202 DESTRUCTION OF SALMON. 



men throw the blame on cobble-net fishing, asserting 

 that the heavy bottom-line, which is often neces- 

 sarily drawn over the shallows at the head and 

 tail of a pool in a river, tear up the gravel, and 

 so destroy the spawn. They may be so far right ; 

 but instead of throwing off the blame on to 

 others shoulders, they only prove the cobble-net to 

 be an additional injury. Of a truth, salmon are 

 most cruelly persecuted individuals, the friend of 

 none — the prey of all. All, excepting a few gentle- 

 men anglers, cry " liavock, and let slip the dogs 

 of war" on them, and it is only the wonderful and 

 prolific care of nature, which spares us the few 

 fish that are left. Their known natural enemies 

 are the porpesse, grampus, and seals, and each of 

 which, it is supposed will, if they can get a 

 " battue' among them, destroy six or eight per 

 diem. Then they are food for otters, cormorants, 

 and sea eagles, when large ; herons, bitterns, eels, 

 trout of all kinds, and the elder salmon* them- 

 selves, while young ; and trout, eels, and various 

 birds, in addition to that little devil, the water- 

 ousel, devour the ova. Then come the artificial 

 injuries inanimate, such as mill races, heads, and 

 leads, and eel baskets, in all of which the fry is 

 destroyed by sackfuls on their journey to sea ! 

 and the foulness of water caused by manufac- 



* Eyidence before the House of Commons, June, 1825, pp. 20, 39- 



