208 



PRESERVATION OF SALMON. 



instances, in which gentlemen anglers have per- 

 sonally interfered to preserve the same river by 

 night, as well as by day. None who know the 

 angler's disposition can doubt it. But even 

 anglers, if better chances were afforded to the 

 river proprietors who use the net (those above 

 the tide-way), would have so much better sport 

 from the same cause, that they would feel less 

 desirous of trespassing into the fence months. 

 As it now is, in many rivers, they have little or 

 no chance until netting ceases ; because, no fish 

 can come up to be caught. Some provision 

 might be made to limit the number that anglers 

 should appropriate to themselves ; they might 

 fish and return all above a certain number in the 

 day to the river. But I say, PRESERVE THE 

 SPAWNING FISH AND FRY ; for, without it, every- 

 thing else is useless. And let me suggest, that 

 not only should the lower as well as the upper 

 proprietors contribute to the expense of preserv- 

 ing, but the whole neighbourhood of a salmon 

 river, or the county, or counties through which 

 it flows, or which it divides, ought likewise to do 

 so ; in as much as these feel the benefit in having 

 fish more plentiful and cheaper ; in their moral 

 improvement (which should never be lost sight of 

 in legislation) ; and, by the prevention of crime, 

 ultimately lessening the expenses of punishment. 

 I entirely agree, as to the destruction of fry by 



