THE FISHERIES. 15 



most recesses of bays, it follows that in his progress 

 along the coast, he strikes against the leader of the 

 fixed net, and being thus turned off into deep water, 

 he goes along the leader in the same way that he 

 was before traversing the shore, and in this way en- 

 ters the chamber, where he remains until captured. 

 This engine is so certain and destructive in its ope- 

 rations, that the capture of 50, or 100 salmon, was by 

 no means an unusual performance for a bag-net dur- 

 ing a single tide: but salmon lately have become more 

 scarce. The number of these engines now in use, 

 and their efficiency, will give some idea of the drain 

 thus put upon the fisheries : a drain so effectual, that 

 it has almost overthrown all property in Salmon- 

 fisheries ; and the engine now becomes almost suici- 

 dal, and threatens its own existence — at least, many 

 of them have ceased operations, merely from the 

 dearth and paucity of salmon which they have them- 

 selves occasioned. 



It will be necessary now to direct attention, prac- 

 tically, to some specific injuries, peculiar to itself, 

 which this engine inflicts upon the Salmon-fisheries. 

 We have already cursorily viewed the subject in re- 

 lation to the overcapture of the fixed net, and its ge- 

 neral illegality, whether considered with reference 

 to the ancient or the existing laws; we shall now 

 endeavour to draw attention to the enormous waste 

 occasioned by the depredations of seals, and other 

 natural enemies of the salmon, in the vicinity of this 

 engine, and by its instrumentality. We take upon 



