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4 



been adopted for taking either the seal or the porpoise, and it will be 

 necessary that a bounty should be given to encourage their being de- 

 stroyed. It has occurred to me that both, and also grampuses when 

 they come up the estuaries in pursuit of Salmon, might be easily taken 

 by a method similar to that by which a large species of shark is cap- 

 tured in Iceland. Bait is put upon stout hooks fixed to small chains, 

 four or five feet long, to which a line is attached, with a buoy, and the 

 whole is fastened to a small anchor ; were similar hooks baited with 

 Salmon to be anchored across estuaries, or even fastened to stakes or 

 stones at low-water mark, it is certain that great numbers might be 

 taken." 



[An engraving accompanies this paper, to show the method proposed 

 for taking these animals.] 



" The time for opening the rivers should be regulated by the time 

 of the descent of the fry and foul fish. In the rivers with which 

 I am acquainted, the descent is seldom accomplished till towards the 

 end of April; and as far as I know, this is the case with most rivers 

 in Scotland. If the close time were to continue till the 10th or 15th 

 of April, all the fry and foul fish, at least the greatest bulk of them, 

 will have descended, and a sufncient number of early fish will have 

 passed up. 



" The last method of taking Salmon which I have to mention is the 

 stake-net; and I understand it to be a chief object with the Committee 

 to ascertain whether this engine, when placed in the sea, be injurious 

 to the river fishings. I trust that the statement I am now to make 

 will prove me conscious of no other feeling than that of perfect impar- 

 tiality, and that I have more regard to truth than to interest. It has 

 been hinted to me that stake-nets might probably turn to some 

 account, if erected on some parts of my property on the west coast of 

 Boss-shire. I am in utter ignorance of the capabilities of my small 

 portion of the coast; but allowing myself to anticipate some benefit 

 should stake-nets be made legal, I am much more deeply interested in 

 the river fishings on the eastern coast. Being thus in a manner placed 

 in a situation to plead for two opposite interests, I am aware that my 

 testimony may appear to be given purposely to serve both; but my 

 opinions were formed before I was aware that I could have any in- 

 terest in the stake-net fishing. I will state what I know to be 

 truth, and my opinions are formed on well-ascertained facts ; and 

 though what I am to state contains much that is against stake-nets, I 

 begin by mentioning that I am far from being hostile to the extension 

 of the sea fishery, provided it be placed under strict regulation. 



" With respect to stake-nets, as now used, being injurious to the 

 Salmon fry, they are so unquestionably near the mouths of rivers and 

 in narrow estuaries ; but if properly stretched in the manner I will 

 describe, they could not do the smallest injury to the fry. The pass- 

 age of the fry happens at different times in different seasons, and does 

 not take place all at once in any year; sometimes fry are seen so 

 early as January in the Tay, as I have been informed by good autho- 

 rity, and continue till the end of May ; but generally the great bulk of 

 the fry passes in April, as is the case in the rivers of the north of 

 Scotland. I have heard the fact so often stated by persons of credit, 

 that I have no doubt that stake-nets detain the fry. But, as already 



