10 



tween the descent of the last of the fry, and the 

 ascent of the breeders, or spavining- fish. In fact, 

 he seems inclined to leave the upper heritors little 

 more concern in the Salmon fishing, than the pro- 

 tection of the rivers and the occasional use of the 

 rod and line. But it is time now to consider, if this 

 kind of destruction and havock may not he justly 

 imputed to the stake nets. 



The flow of the tide along most parts of the 

 coast of Scotland brings with it sea wrack and 

 other marine substances, in such quantities, as to 

 supply the neighbouring farmers with plentiful 

 dressing for their lands. When this stuff is laid, 

 as it must be, on the lower parts of the stake on 

 which the nets are hung, in no long time a dyke 

 or mound will be formed that will be perfectly 

 impassable. The young fish keeping close to the 

 bottom, are thus detained till the heap tides, when 

 they are left dry. I will allow to the Author of the 

 Pamphlet, that he may point to many stake-nets 

 where this cannot happen, because the fish are 

 known to follow some other direction. But his 

 Pamphlet is written, not to recommend a stake-net 

 here and there, but the propriety and expediency 

 of generally adopting that mode of fishing. Those, 

 then, who oppose its introduction, may use such 

 objections, as will necessarily arise when it is uni- 

 versally adopted. Now, the whole coast of Scotland 

 is so much indented by gulphs and arms of the sea, 

 into which rivers of greater or less dimensions are 



