KENTAL THE SPEY THE TAY. 99 



in that respect, I shall remove them at once." The 

 result of this experiment has been perfectly satisfac- 

 tory. In 1851, the fish caught were 48,460, and in 

 1858, 81,562. In 1857 the captures amounted to no 

 less than 99,888. The rental of the Spey fisheries was 

 6000 per annum, whereas his Grace's profit in 1858, 

 when the fisheries were in his own hands, and after he 

 had removed the stake and bag nets, and lengthened 

 the annual close-time, was 12,445. 



This experiment is of the highest interest. A noble- 

 man, fortunately the possessor alike of coast and river 

 fishings, declares that his almost total suppression of 

 stake and bag nets leads to an immense increase in the 

 number of salmon, and to more than double the former 

 profit. He is driven to occupy his own fisheries, be- 

 cause he cannot find a tenant while such destructive 

 modes of fishing are permitted. If it be said that his 

 Grace might by stake-nets have caught as many salmon 

 at sea as were taken in the river, and that the supply 

 to the public would have been the same, we demur to 

 that statement. The salmon would have been fright- 

 ened out to sea, to be the prey of porpoises and seals, 

 instead of being allowed to re-enter their native river, 

 there to exercise their generative functions. And if 

 not allowed to generate, we cannot wonder that they 

 should diminish in numbers. Wherever stake-nets are 

 introduced, the value of river - fishings is forthwith 

 lowered, and in proportion to the increase of captures 

 by means of such nets. During the last three years of 

 stake-net fishing in the estuary of the Tay viz. 1810- 

 11-12 the average annual export from the river-fish- 

 ings was only 1665 boxes of fish ; while, according to 

 the statement of the stake-net fishers themselves, their 

 exports amounted to 4000 boxes, making together 

 5565 boxes yearly. But during the first three years 

 after stake-nets were removed, the average annual 

 amount of the river-fisheries was 4552 boxes ; and dur- 

 ing the next three years, after the river had somewhat 



