SALMON FISHERIES. 329 



(9 Geo. IV., c. 39), which ha* done a good deal to 

 remedy these defects, in so far, at least, as respects the 

 Scottish fisheries. The rivers are shut from the 14th of 

 September to the 1st of February; and every person 

 catching, or attempting to catch fish during that period, 

 is liable to a penalty of not less than l, nor more than 

 10, for every offence, besides subjecting himself to the 

 forfeiture of the fish, if he have any, and such baits, nets, 

 or other implements, as he may have been using at the 

 time. Many penalties are also inflicted upon poachers 

 and trespassers; and provision is made for watching and 

 guarding the rivers. We understand that this act has 

 had a very good effect; although it is believed that it 

 would be better were the close time extended from the 

 first of September to the middle of February. 



Previously to 1842, the importation of foreign salmon 

 was prohibited ; but among the important and beneficial 

 changes effected by the tariff act of that year, the repeal 

 of this prohibition, and the admission of foreign salmon 

 to our markets on payment of a duty of 105. 6 d. a cwt., 

 is one of the foremost. The importation has not, how- 

 ever, been nearly so great as was anticipated. It appears 

 from the Customs' returns, that during the eleven months 

 ending the 5th of December, 1843, the total imports of 

 foreign salmon amounted to 910 cwt., 2 qrs , 7 Ibs. ; of 

 which 824 cwt., 3 qrs., 22 Ibs. (92,394 Ibs.) were entered 

 for consumption. This salmon was almost all brought 

 from Holland, the anticipated imports from Norway and 

 Sweden having turned out quite trifling in amount. 

 The official returns do nol afford the means of discri- 

 minating between fresh and pickled salmon; but we 

 believe by far the larger portion of the imports during 

 the last year (1843) was fresh. 



