APPENDIX. 137 



when there were no breeding fish to protect. This 

 was precisely the evil of the old system ; the close 

 time never commenced, until we could catch no more 

 salmon, or until, in fact, there were no more salmon 

 to be caught ; and then (in an Irish way) we all 

 agreed to let the salmon up to spawn. Is it patriotic, 

 or rather, is it not selfish, to urge the destruction of 

 the salmon at, or very near to, the spawning season, 

 because the salmon will not visit, until a late period, 

 those who propose this late season ? It may be ob- 

 served, that I lay little stress upon the weekly close 

 time, under the new Act, as a provision for stocking 

 the rivers, although for other purposes it is a very 

 useful enactment ; it is assumed, and indeed, is con- 

 ceded, by those conversant with the matter, that 

 anglers, otters, and poachers may get the whole of 

 them, during their long sojourn in the river ; but 

 even if a few of them should escape, they would an- 

 swer Utile purpose as spawners; the useful spawning 

 fish are, emphatically, the August fish, which run up 

 in full vigour from the sea, having the pea matured, 

 and then advance, at leisure, upon the spawning 

 beds, with the floods of October and November; these 

 are the fish, beyond all controversy, that breed, and 

 replenish our rivers, producing a strong brood, un- 

 hke that of the exhausted fish that reach the spawn- 

 ing beds, at a late period, and under unfavourable 

 circumstances. I feel so strongly, the importance, 

 the extreme importance, of stopping all salmon fishing 

 at an early period — say 1st or 10th of August — that 



