138 APPENDIX. 



I am tempted to mention a circumstance, personal to 

 myself, which I think fully demonstrates the import- 

 ance of fixing an early commencement of the close 

 season. Having, with little effect, tried various me- 

 thods to improve this Fishery (which formerly was 

 of considerable value), I adopted a proceeding, which, 

 as I shall be examined on oath during the pending 

 inquiry, I shall now detail, as minutely as I shall, if 

 necessary, depose to on my examination. In July, 

 1839, I directed my men to ' open the weir,' as it 

 is technically called, which I was not bound to do 

 until the 1st of October, under the 32nd Geo. III., 

 cap. 40. Very reluctantly, my orders were obeyed 

 by ray men, and on the midsummer flood, which oc- 

 curred on the 19th July, 1839, the gates on this 

 weir were opened ; by this operation I sacrificed 

 £50 or £60, which, as salmon were then sold at a 

 low rate, represented a very large number of sal- 

 mon ; I looked for a great increase of fry, and of 

 salmon peal, on the following year, not being then 

 aware of the recent discovery in Scotland made by 

 Mr. Shaw, relative to the slow growth, and long du- 

 ration in the river, of the salmon fry. Mr. Shaw's 

 discovery did not become generally known until 

 published in Blackwood, in April 1841 ; however, 

 having let up the fish, I looked for produce (accord- 

 ing to the old opinion) in 1840, but was disappoint- 

 ed : 1840 was a very bad year, so was 1841 ; but 

 in June, 1842, I was greeted with a run of salmon 

 peal, unlike anything I had ever before seen. The 



