THE CON WAY. 173 



fastnesses above Llanrwst Bridge, for years past. 

 From the Bridge to Trefriew below, is let for 

 netting as well as angling. But in some of the 

 best angling spots in that part the nets cannot 

 venture. The ground being too much broken and 

 protected by sunken piles : nor do the renters of 

 it, who merely drag with a corracle-net, appear 

 very well to understand their business, and, there- 

 fore, they do not very much lessen the supply. 

 There is a stake net at Conway, its mouth, in 

 addition to two or three intermediate traps. True, 

 none of these engines work during the fence 

 months, from the 1st of October to the 1st of 

 March; yet, if a few more fish than can do so 

 at present, were allowed at all times to run up 

 this and every river for the next year or two, for 

 each fish the wholesale fishers lose during that 

 period, they would gain a hundred fold in the 

 third season. You are aware that salmon bred 

 in a river, as a general rule, are certain to return 

 to it at the proper seasons to deposit their spawn, 

 and it is much to be regretted that greater pains 

 are not taken for awhile, by all parties, to pre- 

 serve and improve the run and breed of sal- 

 mon ; they are now daily decreasing here, and 

 everywhere, and if once wholly deterred, good- 

 bye to them for ever at least, it would be years 

 before they could be recovered. 



Herb. Is it so certain then that fry bred in a 



