36 



friths and estuaries, that the superiority of stake-nets is 

 experienced. In the upper parts of rivers, the coble-net 

 may be extended from bank to bank, so as to inter- 

 cept all the fish which come into them ; thus accomplish- 

 ing all that could be expected from the most efficient 

 stake-net, and at infinitely less expence. In the sea 

 and the friths, however, a more extended apparatus is in- 

 dispensably requisite, in order to procure such a circuit as 

 will bring the fish within reach of the net. And it is, ac- 

 cordingly, only in the sea and the friths that the full value 

 of the stake-net invention is experienced. 



Before the fry enter the friths, however, they have left 

 the margin of the river, and sought the depth of the mid- 

 channel, far from the shore, upon which alone the stake- 

 nets can be erected. And, in the sea itself, none are ever 

 to be observed. Neither, therefore, in the Tay, as has 

 been seen, nor in any other frith, and far less in the sea, 

 have any Salmon fry ever been destroyed by the stake- 

 nets. The contrary, no doubt, was at one time alleged, 



subjected to suitable regulations. But, at the same time, there 

 are two things which, perhaps, merit consideration. In thefost 

 place, would the stake-nets be a greater interruption than the 

 qruives or fishing dykes which are at present allowed to run 

 into rivers ? And, secondly, might not the navigation be in 

 some measure even benefited by the stake-nets, in as much as, 

 by obstructing the fre^e course of the tide and so in effect con- 

 tracting the outlet of the water, they would have a tendency 

 to deepen the mid-channel of the river ? If any general legis- 

 lative measure shall be adopted in reference to the salmon 

 fishery of Scotland, careful provision should be made with re- 

 spect to the navigation of the rivers. 



