iiiessalimeon 115 
salmon, but whose yield at the present time is almost nil. The fish 
run up these small rivers from the sea in time of flood; but when the 
flood subsides there is not enough water to protect them, conse- 
quently they are forced to return to the sea again, and are captured 
by the stake-nets, so that few are left to ascend the river and main- 
tain a sufficient stock. Wherever, too, stake or bag nets have been 
removed the stock of fish has increased. At present these nets are 
allowed to be used far too near the mouths of rivers. In my opinion 
they ought to be at least two miles away. 
Some people maintain that they catch many fish that would not 
enter a river the same season, but most of the fish that come to our 
coasts are steering their course to some river. I do not think more 
than three per cent of the salmon thus caught would remain in the 
sea. Even if many of them did remain, it is no argument in favour of 
catching them in the sea, because the nets would be taking immature 
fish, which by another year might be three times the weight. While 
in the sea, too, their food costs nothing. I think, then, the number 
of stake-nets in the sea should be greatly lessened. Riparian 
proprietors spend a great deal of money in providing for the wel- 
fare of the salmon in their rivers. Yet we find fish so reared are 
caught by others living outside of the river district, and in a whole- 
sale manner by stake-nets, causing the rivers to become neglected, 
and the supply of fish to become very limited. So long as plenty 
of fish are allowed to pass into the rivers, they will be protected 
whenever they show signs of decrease. About thirty years ago 
many proprietors said to me that their stretch of river brought 
them so little return that they were not troubling to look after it. 
Since then, however, their stretches have risen in value to the extent 
of 300 or 400 per cent. 
Tue SALMON DISEASE 
The salmon disease first made its appeakance: im thes tiver Eden 
at Carlisle; the following year it was noticed in the Tweed; and the 
