AND THEIR INHABITANTS. l8l 



be carefully analysed with a view to trace the source 

 of impurity, and means taken to destroy the diseased 

 fish, which it should be legal to take even in close 

 time by remitting all penalties if fish can be proved 

 to be diseased." 



The Hodder, a tributary of the Ribble, has 

 been carefully protected for a salmon stream. The 

 fish-hatching houses at Whitwell and higher up the 

 river are so interesting that they would tempt many 

 to try experiments for amusement, if not for profit. 

 The salmon-ladders seem curious to the uninitiated ; 

 they are made to help the fish when they ascend the 

 rivers at the breeding season. A letter in Land and 

 Water, dated February 23, 1867, says, addressing 

 Mr. Buckland, " You will remember when at Knares- 

 borough going down to ' Scruton's Dam ' to see the 

 salmon leap. At the opposite side from where we 

 stood is the ' Mill-wheel,' and then alongside there is 

 a passage which can be opened or closed by a * clow ' 

 or 'clough.' Last year about this time the river was 

 much swollen, and through this passage the water 

 was rushing with great force. The top of the pas- 

 sage is boarded over, and on my arrival there on 

 Sunday afternoon a salmon, said to be about ten 

 pounds weight, was lying struggling on the boards, and 

 I felt certain this fish lived from twenty to twenty-five 

 minutes out of the water. We spectators were all on 

 the opposite side from the fish. It was impossible to 

 cross or make the parties residing at the mill aware of 

 what was going on in consequence of the noise at the 

 dam. A lad started round by the nearest bridge, 

 whilst we stood watching the struggling salmon, 



