CHAP. V.] CO-OPERATION BETTER THAN COMPETITION. 223 



" Considering that at present the only chance of having 

 fish in the rivers depends upon the excellence and care of the 

 breeding-grounds at the river-heads, while the river-head pro- 

 prietors, by disturbing the shingle (which should be protected) 

 at the period of depositing and hatching the roe, could destroy 

 all chance, and yet be legally unchallengeable, these river-head 

 proprietors are hardly recognised as proprietors at all, which 

 therefore should be altered. ... I propose that the river, 

 from its highest breeding-ground to its mouth, and so far into 

 the sea as private or public interests can extend, should be 

 made a common property and a common care ; improved where 

 improvable, at the general expense of the whole proprietors 

 along its banks ; fished, not savagely, and as if extermination 

 were a laudable object, but prudentty, and with a view to 

 permanent interests ; the fish allowed to go unmolested to the 

 breeding-grounds, at least so far as to secure a full brood, and 

 protected against destruction in returning when unfit for food ; 

 and the expense and the profit to be divided pro rata, accord- 

 ing to the mileage along the banks ; unless, in the judgment 

 of intelligent and equitable men, a degree of preference should 

 be given in the case of grounds of acknowledged excellence 

 for breeding or feeding. 



" It may be said it would be malicious in the proprietors 

 of breeding-grounds to consider it necessary to . repair their 

 gravel-walks with shingle from the river at the very time 

 when depositing or hatching the roe was going on ; but could 

 it be prevented ? and would it be more inequitable than an- 

 ticipating every fish worth catching at the mouth of the river 

 or along their course, and allowing the proprietors of the head- 

 waters no share V 



In the meantime, it is satisfactory to see that all classes 

 of the community are thoroughly aroused to the danger which 

 menaces our king of fishes. There must of course be a 

 limit to the productiveness of even the most prolific salmon 



