PRESERVATION OF SALMON. 205 



the annual local value of each fishery on the river, 

 or at its mouth, from among all the proprietors 

 collectively. It is proved by the evidence to 

 which I have so often alluded, that the larger and 

 finer fish are more shy of entering a river early, 

 but that more of this quality are taken at such 

 time at its mouth only. I would therefore make 

 a law, that the meshes and opening of the nets and 

 engines should be proportionately wider as they 

 approach towards the sea; and also, not only 

 would I provide fence months, not only enforce 

 the law against fishing in any way on a Sunday, and 

 the observance of what is termed the Saturday 

 slap, viz. an opening of all nets, so as to allow 

 fish free access upwards, from Saturday evening 

 till Monday morning but I would also enact 

 that a Wednesday slap should be strictly observed. 

 I would try this as an experiment ; for it would, 

 at all events, give the upper proprietors a better 

 chance, and, if it failed or succeeded, would be 

 alike injurious or beneficial to all. If it were 

 tried for a year or two, all the harm it could do 

 would be to lessen the supply coming to market 

 during that period, while it must increase the 

 quantity in after years. Angling out of season 

 has been spoken of as injurious ; especially 

 because it affords the lower class (poachers to 

 wit) a pretence for hovering about the rivers by 

 day, thereby to detect where they can find the 



