PROVISIONS OF THE ACT 1853. 13 



spring, the difficulty of deciding when a fish becomes 

 foul in the autumn probably rendering it inoperative 

 in that season. All kelts and spawning salmon are to 

 be returned to the water ; and, in the case of rod- 

 fishing, the use of the gaff or " cleek" is prohibited 

 until the 1st of June, in order that the fish may be so 

 returned in as good condition as possible. To have 

 foul-fish in possession is made a penal offence. " Fixed 

 nets" and " fixed engines/' which the Act defines to 

 " mean and include stake, bag, bob, hang, sole, and 

 cairn nets," and all nets or cruives made stationary in 

 any way whatever, are prohibited. The most important 

 net thus abolished is the stell-net, which is the principal 

 net used at the very mouth of the river, and the aboli- 

 tion of which, it is loudly declared, will totally destroy 

 some valuable fisheries. The stell-net, however, is 

 merely the ordinary weir-shot or sweep-net, kept ex- 

 tended for some time instead of being immediately 

 drawn in ; and where it can be wrought the one 

 way it can be wrought the other, although perhaps 

 less productively. Leisters (fish-spears) are totally 

 prohibited, and the possession of such an instrument 

 made illegal. Four hours additional are added to the 

 weekly close-time from the 1st of June to the close of 

 the season, the killing of salmon by any means between 

 BIX o'clock on Saturday night and six o'clock on Mon- 

 day morning being now prohibited. 



It certainly cannot be said that these provisions 

 show any marked favour to the angling interest in 

 the Tweed. The rod-fishing proprietors have given 

 up a great deal, in order to vindicate themselves from 

 the imputation of selfishness, and have trusted entirely 



