APPENDIX. 135 



splendid fish, which are all of a large size, and are 

 worth from two to three shillings per pound, in any 

 market in the United Kingdom, (the best proof of 

 their perfection,) will inevitably be lost for the pur- 

 poses of man, as while wandering round our shores 

 and estuaries, as it is their instinct to do, at that sea- 

 son, they become the prey of seals and porpoises, 

 which destroy them in vast numbers. No doubt can 

 exist that the public interest requires, that the re- 

 striction upon catching these fish in the sea and tide- 

 way, should be of as small duration as possible. To 

 fish for them in the sea, even in December, could do 

 no injury, as the spawners have all gone up, and the 

 spent fish have not yet come down. Having can- 

 vassed the question when the close season should 

 end, I am happy to say that less difficulty, though 

 not less controversy, exists, as to when the close sea- 

 son should begin. No person at all conversant with 

 the subject can have the shghtest doubt, that the 

 prosperity of our salmon-fisheries altogether depends 

 upon having the close season to commence early, and 

 to continue for a sufficient length of time. The pre- 

 sent Act empowers the Commissioners to alter the 

 close time, but provides that it shall not comprise 

 less than 124 days in each year. I would most 

 strongly observe that this is the minimum fixed by 

 the Legislature, but submit that the close season 

 should consist of at least five full months ; and I 

 would urgently impress upon those interested in fish- 

 eries, that seven months' fishing is a very ample sea- 



