Sir W. Jardiiie on the Common Salmon. 47 



the estimation of the sportsman. The salmon fisheries of 

 Scotland were of very great value, but for the last twelve or 

 fifteen years they have rapidly decreased, some having fallen 

 so much as two-thirds of their rent. The county of Suther- 

 land having a large extent of sea coast, indented with innu- 

 merable bays, and the country being nearly a succession of 

 mountains and valleys, each with their lakes and rivers, was a 

 favourite resort for the salmon, and the fisheries were valuable, 

 and carried on extensively. They were, however, let to tenants, 

 (or kayners as they are there termed,) and being much over- 

 fished, shared the fate of the others ; so much so, that the late 

 Duke of Sutherland, anxious to restore them, two years since 

 took them entirely into his own possession, built extensive curing 

 houses, preserved the rivers during close-time, and so regulated 

 the fishing, that free access was given to the heavy or breeding 

 fish, and the kelts or spawned fish were allowed to return un- 

 molested to the sea. The consequences of this good manage- 

 ment have already shewn themselves, and in some rivers the pro- 

 duce has been tins year doubled. In the examination of these 

 fisheries one or two facts presented themselves. 



It has always been a sjibject of dispute whether the fry re- 

 turned to the rivers as grilse in the same season which they de- 

 scended. I have had no doubt of this for several years, but it 

 was very difficult to prove. In the Tweed, I have killed grilse 

 early in the season, so small as only to weigh two pounds, and 

 seen them gradually increase in size as the season advanced ; the 

 intermediate size, however, between the fry and the two pound 

 grilse was wanting. During the two years which the fisheries of 

 Sutherland have been in possession of the Duke, a set of expe- 

 riments have been instituted by his factors, one of which leaves 

 no doubt upon the subject. Last spring, several thousands of 

 fry were marked in the diffcM-ent rivers, among others, by Mr 

 Baigrie in the Laxford and Dinard, on the west coast. In the 

 Laxford, the first grilse (marked in April as fry) returned on the 

 25lh June, and weighed three pounds and a half. Many others 

 were got during the season from this weight to six pounds 

 and a half, returning to the rivers where the fry were marked, 

 which was known by a particular mark being used in each, and 

 shewing that a return to their breeding ground was as frequent, 

 or rather as constant, as among the higher animals. This size 



