OF A SALMON. 27 



many weeks of the year absolutely impassable 

 to the salmon no let or hindrance. With this 

 cause, others operated to protect the fish, making 

 them, if not more abundant in the market, attain 

 a larger size than are now commonly met with. 

 First of all was the rudeness of the tackle, its 

 much greater cost, and the poverty of the people, 

 It was not alone that Kobert de Eton, the Abbot 

 of St. Werburgh, or the King's officer, possessed 

 the privilege of certain nets and fishings in the 

 Dee ; but the people, in whom the possession of 

 nets was illegal, were too poor to transgress the 

 law by acquiring them. Nets in those days 

 must have been comparatively rare and costly; 

 not easily replaced or repaired/ and of inferior 

 size and manufacture. Of this we have some 

 evidence in the " Household Book" of Henry 

 VIII. who, in changing his place of residence for 

 a time, was at considerable expense in conveying, 

 apparently, the same nets for the purpose of fishing. 

 There is an entry made on the 19th June, 1530, 



u To Robert a Lee, for certayne netts, and for the 

 charges of the cariage of the same about w* the King's 

 grace 4 6s. 4d." 



" 16 Feby, 1532, pade to Eobt a Lee for carrying 

 the King's netts from Waltham to Hownsden, 9s." 



u 13 May, 1532 to Robt a Lee for certayne netts 

 and for the charges of the carriage of them by the 

 space of one hole year, 5 10s. Od. 



E 



