248 HIGHLAND SPORT 



protection by the lower ones, while in other cases certain of the 

 Fishery Associations provide water bailiffs to assist the keepers 

 of the upper proprietors in their good work. 



Many river owners have also been spirited enough to start 

 fish hatcheries at their own expense, while with the view of in- 

 creasing the size of the fish, eggs have been imported from the 

 Rhine, the Shannon, the Tay, and the Deveron, as each of these 

 rivers is celebrated for its large fish. Amongst those who have 

 thus acted may be mentioned the Duke of Richmond, the Earl 

 of Mansfield, the Marquis of Breadalbane, Sir William Cunliffe 

 Brooks, and Sir James Gibson Maitland, this last-named gende- 

 man being an absolute enthusiast in the matter, who probably 

 knows more about salmon-breeding than anyone in the King- 

 dom.* Altogether there are but few big rivers without a salmon 

 hatchery, but, nevertheless, there are those who shake their 

 heads at them and assert they do but little good in comparison 

 with the number of fry they yearly turn into the river; they are 

 convinced that hatched fry differ from river-reared fry, and that 

 when turned into the river " tame " fry do not know how to 

 conceal themselves from their foes, or how to find food, and 

 altogether lack the strength of naturally -hatched fry ; also I 

 have heard it stated that hatched fry should be turned into the 

 river as far away from the mouth as may be, for that if they 

 are placed in fresh water too low down on the river and before 

 they are acclimatised, they will on going to the sea wander off 

 to other rivers to ascend them instead of returning to the one 

 they started from. These theories are mentioned for what 

 they are worth, for up to date none of them have been sub- 

 stantiated as facts. 



The upper proprietors then, having done their utmost to 



preserve alike the old and the young of the salmon, find when 



springtime brings back the fish at their very best, that the 



lower proprietors are capturing with their nets almost every 



one that enters the river. It is perhaps fortunate for me that 



* Since this was written both these last-named gentlemen have joined the great 

 majority. 



