JOINT INTERESTS IN RIVERS. 27 



source of revenue, and a large supply of wholesome food, 

 at a price so reasonable as to bring it within the means of 

 the poorest classes. 



The stream which I have made my model is dragged two 

 or three times in the season, to get rid of the coarse fish 

 and give room to the rising brood ; and all streams will be 

 the better for this annual removal of the large fish, a rule 

 applicable to all waters, which would soon tell in the 

 pockets of their proprietors. There is nothing worse than 

 a piece of water overstocked. 



The conflicting interests in salmonries give rise to much 

 jealousy, and to much undoing by one proprietor of any 

 good which may be attempted by another : so much so, 

 that I despair of seeing anything effectually done for the 

 benefit of all by the exertions of individual proprietors ; 

 but if the system of artificial spawning which I am recom- 

 mending conld, by any means, be carried out by a company 

 of these proprietors, holding shares in proportion to the 

 extent of their waters, the obstacles which now stand stur- 

 dily in the way of improvement would be removed at once 

 and for ever, and the company would be well repaid for the 

 outlaying of their capital. 



As I have said, in an earlier page of this little work, it is 

 neither the passage of ships and steam-vessels, nor the* 

 gas-works, which have injuriously affected the breeding of 

 fish ; for the vessels of burthen are moored in the brack 



