32 THE FISHERIES, 



The foregoing Table exhibits the size or weight 

 of salmon peal, or young salmon, which will pass 

 through the proposed spaces, viz., five and a half 

 inch mesh in fixed nets, and two and a quarter inch 

 aperture in perpendicular bars, at the head of boxes 

 or cruives in Salmon-weirs. 



The escapement here appears slightly favourable 

 to cruives in weirs, as contrasted with the mesh in 

 fixed nets, but this advantage is rather apparent 

 than real. In the box or cruive the fish is as it 

 were coerced to move upwards by the stream run- 

 ning through the box, and, if the apertures be suf- 

 ficient, he will not remain in it a moment, but pass 

 through. But in the flexible chamber of the fixed 

 net, where no stream is running, there is not the 

 same impulse upon the fish to pass through. We 

 shall not here enter into any hair-breadth argument 

 on a matter, respecting which each member of the 

 community, if he pleases, may satisfy himself, but 

 will merely state that we have arrived at a satisfac- 

 tory conclusion in our own mind, that if it be consi- 

 dered desirable to prevent the capture, by fixed en- 

 gines, of Salmon-peal of 5 lbs. weight, (which we assur- 

 edly do,) two and a quarter inch bars, and five and 

 a half inch mesh in fixed engines, will be the proper 

 provision to eifect that object. 



Neither do we think that any sound objection 

 can be made on behalf of tenants, or lessees, paying 

 rent, to the adoption of such apertures or means of 

 escape. Small salmon do not make their appear- 



