strength, which was before unknown. And, as a convic- 

 tion of this truth, must spread wider and wider every 

 day, there can be no doubt, that, sooner or later, the at* 

 tention of the Legislature must be directed to it. 



The modes of Salmon fishing in use in Scotland, were, 

 until within the last thirty years, extremely rude and in- 

 artificial ; and, generally speaking, were adapted only to 

 the narrow rivers. There was, indeed, it may be said, 

 wo Salmon fishing in the friths or estuaries, none of the 

 modes in use, being suited for such situations. 



The most simple mode of fishing was the moveable net 

 or seine, still in use, generally known by the name of the 

 coble-net. But the indolence of a rude people naturally 

 looked for a fixed apparatus, which would perform its 

 work without the necessity of constant attendance ; and, 

 accordingly, such a mode of fishing seems to have been 

 early resorted to in most rivers. The most ancient of 

 this description, was called a croe, or cruive ; examples 

 of which, supported by prescriptive usage or special grant, 

 are still in existence. It consisted of a dike, or solid 

 mound of earth, stone, or wood, running across the river 

 from bank to bank, wherein, at intervals, were placed cer- 

 tain pieces of machinery for detaining and entangling the 

 fish in their transit up and down the river.* This dike 

 or mound, with its boxes or traps, which were generally 



* It has been said, that, properly speaking, it was to this 

 machinery, inserted in the mound or dike, that the name of 

 croe or cruive was given. And, with some plausibility cer- 

 tainly, considering the structure of such machinery, even at 

 the present day, etymologists have described the word croe 

 to be the same with crib. 



