APPENDIX. 157 



I shall conclude this letter with some practical ob- 

 servations on the extraordinary appearances which 

 the peal or grilse of the present year presented — 

 appearances from which it can be inferred, almost 

 with confidence, that the ensuing season will exhibit 

 a marked deficiency, and a continued decline of the 

 salmon species. I am aware how open any observa- 

 tions of this kind are, to attack, but as we have been 

 given the fish of the sea and the fowl of the air for 

 our use, it is incumbent upon us not to abuse the gift ; 

 and the indications to which I am about to refer are 

 but forewarnings to which we are bound to attend ; 

 and I say it confidently, as the result of all experience 

 in salmon fishing, that the appearances presented by 

 the peal or grilse of the present year, indicate, that 

 the ensuing season will be worse than the past.* 



Those appearances are the following ; and they 

 have been observed in every part of the kingdom : — 

 The number, the shape, the scale, and the vreight of 

 the peal were all defective ; the peal at their first 

 appearance in May, averaged about 3 lbs. when they 

 should have averaged 5 lbs., and in July and August 

 they averaged 5 lbs. when they should have averaged 

 7 ; in shape, and adhesion of scale, there was a marked 

 defect, and in number, the most extraordinary defici- 

 ency. When these appearances present themselves, 

 the worst anticipations of the ensuing season may be 

 formed. The converse of this proposition also holds 



The following season was the worst salmon season ever re- 

 membered in Ireland. 



