AND THEIR INHABITANTS. 159 



Mr. Brandling's intentions of laying before Parlia- 

 ment the various causes which, taken together, throw 

 obstructions in the way of the salmon-tribe breeding 

 in the Tyne in the same overflowing numbers as of 

 old ; and in putting together a few remarks in as short 

 a way as time permits, to state my opinion as to the 

 reasons for such an immense falling-off. When a 

 boy, from about the year 1760 to 1767, I was fre- 

 quently sent by my parents to the fishermen at 

 Eltringham Ford to purchase a salmon. I was always 

 desired not to pay twopence per pound, and I com- 

 monly paid only a penny, and sometimes three half- 

 pence, before or perhaps about this time. I have 

 been told that an article had been always inserted in 

 every indenture of apprenticeship in Newcastle, that 

 the apprentices were not to be forced to eat salmon 

 above twice a week, and the same bargain was made 

 with common servants. I hope the time will shortly 

 come when the same overflowing bounty of provi- 

 dence will again enrich my beloved Tyne. Whatever 

 obstructions are thrown in the way to prevent the 

 salmon from ascending so far up every river and 

 rivulet as they can reach for the purpose of spawning, 

 is the first and great cause of the breed being thinned ; 

 therefore, every weir and every dam ought to be 

 removed. The fishermen's weirs are bad, but of these 

 By well is the worst ; they both have their rise in a 

 greedy and selfish disposition to prevent other fisheries 

 from partaking in a due share of the fish. You will 

 be able as well as I can to point out to Mr. Brandling 

 the evils arising from the uses of nets of various kinds, 

 which obstruct the fish from ascending the river, as 



