36 



dispensably requisite, in order to procure such a circuit as 

 will bring the fish within reach of the net. And it is, ac- 

 cordingly, only in the sea and the friths that the full value 

 of the stake-net invention is experienced. 

 i Before the fry enter the friths, however, they have left 

 the margin of the river, and sought the depth of the mid- 

 channel, far from the shore, upon which alone the stake- 

 nets can be erected. And, in the sea itself, none are ever 

 to be observed. Neither, therefore, in the Tay, as has 

 been seen, nor in any other frith, and far less in the sea, 

 have any Salmon fry ever been destroyed by the stake- 

 nets. The contrary, no doubt, was at one time alleged, 

 and believed ; but it is now unquestionably established, 

 that never was a charge more destitute of truth. 



But, even were the habits and instincts of the young 

 brood not so decisive of themselves, it would still be im 

 possible that any injury to the fry could arise from the 

 stake-nets. The structure of a stake-net is such that it 

 cannot detain the fry. The net does not hang loose, but 

 is extended on stakes; and every mesh is open, pre- 

 senting a circuit of from ten to twelve inches, and a side 

 fully three inches in length. Now, it is evident, that 

 such an apparatus could not injure or interrupt the fry, 

 even if they were within its operation. They would, on 

 the contrary, pass through as freely as the tide. 



It is extremely worthy of notice, however, that though 

 the charge of injuring the fry, falls altogether to the ground, 

 when applied to the stake-nets, it holds good, and is highly 

 applicable with regard to the coble-nets of the fresh water. 

 These nets are to the utmost degree, destructive of the fry, 

 by intercepting them as they float along the margin of the 

 river. The meshes are small, and, from the nets hanging 

 loose, they are at all times close ; so that the fry, in their 

 progress downwards to the sea, get entangled in them 





