9 



the bottom of the river, tearing 1 up the gravel and 

 crushing or bruising every delicate matter they fall 

 upon." Here he dt scribes coble fishing in a rapid 

 stream ; but, as he before mentioned (page 21), 

 that the spawning fish betake themselves to retired 

 shallows for this purpose, he cannot \\e\\ say that 

 the ova are destroyed by the coble net going down 

 the stream. And really it is rather hard to charge 

 this mode of fishing with committing havock and 

 waste, which it would require the finest micros- 

 cope and the nicest examination to ascertain. 

 Neither do I think this havock and damage is done 

 amongst the young fish, because he tells us, that 

 " they keep near the margin of the river, avoiding 

 the current of the stream as too impetuous, and 

 seeking what the fishermen call the easy water at 

 the side." As to the fry being taken in numbers 

 by the coble nets, I cannot think this requires any 

 other answer than that it is plainly impossible that 

 such small fish could be taken by the net if the 

 meshes were of the proper size. 



The net and coble fishing has, however, been 

 sanctioned by the law and by the experience of 

 centuries ; but if, by means of a minute inquiry, it 

 can be discovered that they actually injure the beds 

 of the Ova, this objection can be at once removed 

 by merely extending the close time. But, according 

 to the reasoning of the Author, it is a most destruc- 

 tive mode of fishing, and should only be allowed 

 during the very short time which takes place be- 



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