25 



rivers propose alterations, if they were found ne- 

 cessary ; instead of suggesting the propriety of 

 causing all the fishing in Scotland to begin at a 

 certain day, unless it should be at the same time 

 proposed to cause the Salmon to be more uniform 

 in their movements. 



It is impossible, however, to forget that all this 

 stir and clamour against the laws, arises from those 

 who have a private interest in the decision of the 

 question, and accordingly, if we turn to page 

 23 of the Pamphlet, we shall at once perceive 

 what has induced them to bring this point for- 

 ward at all. There we read, " For example, it 

 " may plausibly be said that the fishery might be 

 " prosecuted with public advantage in the sea, 

 " and in friths and estuaries, at times, when it 

 " would be attended with noxious effects in the 

 rivers," &c. In short, ? it is modestly suggested, 

 that when the proprietors immediately above them 

 are exposed to pains and penalties if they fish at 

 all, they the lower heritors should be allowed to 

 fish away for the benefit of the nation at large. 

 Now, whatever variety there may be in the habits 

 of the fish frequenting different rivers, there cap 

 be little or none in the habits of those resorting to 

 the same rivers. If the fish are going up any 

 river for the purpose of spawning, they must first 

 appear at the mouth of it ; or if black fish or fry are 

 coming down, it must be there that they are first 

 seen, because the season there is earlier,; so that 



D 



