15 



tended the field of their operations into the proper ocean 

 itself. And it is now discovered, and by the test of ex- 

 perience put beyond all doubt, that stake-nets may be used 

 with success, ON THE OPEN COAST, AND ALL ALONG THE 



SHORES OP THE SEA. 



This discovery has been made only within the last few 

 years ; and although, comparatively, the sea fishery has 

 not hitherto been carried on to great extent, yet, from the 

 experiments which have been made, it appears to be cer- 

 tain, that unless the proprietors of the river fisheries be 

 allowed, in this instance also, to destroy the hopes and in- 

 terest of the public, a very few years more will introduce 

 a total and most unexpected alteration on the Salmon fish- 

 ery of Scotland. 



On various parts of the north-east coast, stake-nets have 

 been erected, and everywhere with the most complete suc- 

 cess. At Woodston, the property of Lord Chief Com- 

 missioner Adam; at Duninald, the property of Mr. Ark. 

 lay ; at Rossie, and several other stations within a very 

 few miles of each other, on the open sea coast near Mon- 

 trose, the fishery has been carried on with remarkable 

 effect. Four years ago there was not a stake-net on that 

 coast ; and already, those erected produce a revenue to 

 the proprietors, of about L. 4,000 yearly. But this is 

 a small sum in comparison with what may yet be re- 

 ceived. The fishery is in its infancy. Those stations, 

 even, at which the nets are erected, have been only par- 

 tially fished. Their full value is thus still unknown. 

 And there are a great many other stations on the same 

 coast admirably fitted for the fishery, which have not 

 been tried. 



On the Aberdeenshire coast, in like manner, the fishery 

 has made considerable progress. Between the Don and 



