THE FISHERIES. 45 



ing of stone, will be as permanent as the weir itself; 

 any other material would be useless : timber, for 

 instance, has been proposed, and estimates of con- 

 siderable amount have been put forward for some 

 wooden structures, but we much fear the poachers 

 in the vicinity (when the moon was not at the full) 

 would take an early opportunity of permitting the 

 disjecta membra to float quietly down-stream, parti- 

 cularly if the device so constructed should prove very 

 efficient for its purpose. 



But the expense of these structures will, after all, 

 be a material consideration. The funds for these 

 purposes at the disposal of Boards of Conservators 

 are very limited ; and as mill-weirs in some rivers 

 are numerous, many years might elapse before any- 

 thing effectual could be done, if estimates should 

 range so high as £50, £100, and even considerably 

 higher. We think economy, therefore, indispensable 

 in the allocation of the funds appHcable to this pur- 

 pose. In any of the plans we have proposed, we 

 should say £40 will be the outside of all expenses, 

 but in the most effectual plan suggested, namely, 

 that in the sluice itself, one-half the above amount 

 will amply suffice ; while in numerous old, ill-con- 

 structed, and uneven weirs, by slight aids or very 

 simple adaptations, passes effectual for every purpose 

 intended, and permanent as the rough old structure 

 itself, can be completed at an expense not exceeding 

 ten pounds. 



We must not, however, prolong this discussion, as 



