1 66 THE SALMON 



of the chapter just quoted, he gives the sound advice : 

 ' Keep close time strictly ; kill no spawning fish ; 

 tamper not with foul ones of any sort ; preserve the 

 fry.' 



A skilful poacher can sometimes gaff numbers of 

 fish in a narrow passage or by a fall. Many salmon 

 also fall victims to a variety of implements in the 

 upper pools of small rivers which speedily run low 

 even after a heavy spate. They are unable to escape, 

 and pitchforks, rakes, and even scythes suffice to 

 destroy them, as well as instruments of destruction 

 especially manufactured for the purpose. In deep 

 holes ruffled by the wind, a water telescope is some- 

 times employed to discover their whereabouts. 



I am not concerned to defend any form of poach- 

 ing, but the most venial form of that offence, in my 

 opinion, is the occasional capture of a fish with the 

 fly in low water in a river entirely your own — volenti 

 non fit injuria ; but I am here referring to a fly affixed 

 to the lips of the salmon by other methods than those 

 of mere coaxing and persuasion. No one is bound 

 to criminate himself, and I have ' hardly ever ' been 

 guilty of such an offence. But I have heard of many 

 parties after a long drought irresistibly attracted to 

 the water side, and of deeds of doubtful legality 

 achieved with the luncheon-paper fly, so called 



